U.S. Halts Fuel Shipment Deal with Cuba Amid Ongoing Sanctions

The Trump administration has halted a significant fuel shipment deal from a Florida energy trading company to Cuba. This would have been one of the largest U.S. fuel shipments to the island in decades.

Vanguard Energy recently announced an agreement with Cuban officials to transport 250,000 barrels of gasoline and diesel from a Texas refinery to Cuba. The plan also included leasing facilities owned by the Cuban government for fuel storage once the shipment arrived.

The U.S. State Department intervened when details of the agreement emerged. It emphasized that Vanguard Energy needs explicit approval from U.S. authorities to proceed. In a statement, the State Department clarified, “Vanguard Energy has not received any U.S. license for this transaction. The Trump administration’s sanctions remain in effect absent specific guidance or licensing to the contrary.”

This move is part of the Trump administration’s broader effort to exert pressure on Cuba by limiting its oil supply. Cuba faces a worsening energy crisis, worsened by the capture of Nicolás Maduro in January. Venezuela, under his leadership, used to provide Cuba with subsidized oil, a critical support line.