February 26, 2026 | 05:10 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The US Treasury Department on Wednesday said it is allowing the resale of Venezuelan oil to Cuba if the transactions benefit the Cuban private sector rather than the communist-run government. It comes after US President Donald Trump ordered a blockade of fuel reaching Cuba to force regime change and reforms on the island.
What Did the US Say About Easing the Restrictions?
The US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control said it "would implement a favorable licensing policy towards specific license applications seeking authorization for the resale of Venezuelan-origin oil for use in Cuba."
The Treasury said this "favorable licensing policy is directed towards transactions that support the Cuban people, including the Cuban private sector (e.g., exports for commercial and humanitarian use in Cuba)." The statement said transactions involving the Cuban military, government or intelligence services would not be covered by this policy.
The easing of the US blockade comes as life on the island has slowed to a halt due to a lack of fuel. Power outages in Cuba are commonplace, with hospitals dialing back services and trash collectors pausing their work, causing piles of rubbish to pile up in Cuban cities.
The US military ouster and kidnapping of leftist Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro last month was a huge economic blow for Cuba, as Venezuela is a key supplier of oil to Cuba. Venezuela is thought to have the largest oil reserves on the planet.
In addition to the restrictions on oil supplies to Cuba, the US has had an extensive embargo on trade and commerce against Cuba since 1962.
Canada Pledges Aid to Cuba to Address 'Urgent Needs'
As Cuba faces a humanitarian emergency, the Canadian government on Wednesday said it would give CAN $8 million ($5.8 million; almost €5 millon) to Cuba in humanitarian assistance via the UN World Food Program and children's agency UNICEF.
"As the people of Cuba face significant hardship, Canada stands in solidarity and is providing targeted assistance to help address urgent needs," Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand said. "Through trusted humanitarian partners, we are delivering timely support to vulnerable communities and reaffirming Canada's commitment to the well-being and dignity of the Cuban people."
Rubio Attends Caribbean Meeting as Regional Anxieties Worsen
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is attending a summit of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) on Wednesday as regional leaders grow uneasy over Trump's aggressive policies in the Western hemisphere.
Rubio did not mention Cuba in his remarks to the Caribbean countries at the meeting on Saint Kitts and Nevis, but defended US policy towards Venezuela and said there is a need for "fair, democratic elections" there.
At the start of the summit on Tuesday, Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness suggested that a humanitarian crisis in Cuba could spark migration flows in the region.
"Humanitarian suffering serves no one," Holness said. "A prolonged crisis in Cuba will not remain confined to Cuba."
Saint Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Terrance Drew said a "destabilized Cuba will destabilize all of us."
Read: Venezuela Sends First Oil Shipment to Israel in Years
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