Russian Tankers Head to Cuba, Defying US Pressure

0:00On March 20th, Russian oil tankers are steaming toward Cuba amid the island's worst energy crisis in years, setting up a potential standoff with the United States. Two vessels loaded with fuel, Katesh Washington's new tariff threats aimed at blocking foreign suppliers from helping Havana. Cuba just suffered a massive grid failure that blacked out most of the country, on top of ongoing shortages in fuel, food, water, and medicine. Cuban Trump boasted this week that he could take control of Cuba if he wanted, drawing sharp backlash from Havana and promises of support from Moscow. Even as rhetoric heats up, Cuban leaders say recent talks with U.S. officials export ways to cooperate on shared issues. The tankers' arrival will reveal how far Russia can push oil deliveries past American pressure with Cuba's power woes hanging in the balance.