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Cuba says it has run out of fuel, blames U.S. embargo

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Re: Cuba says it has run out of fuel, blames U.S. embargo

#81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What legal justification could there possibly be for imposing a tarrif on Mexico-Cuba trade that doesn't involve the US at any point? What would your reaction be if China imposed tariffs on US-Canadian border crossings and seized American ships over it?

A tariff is a tax that a country imposes on goods entering its borders. A country can impose a tariff on any country, at any time, for whatever reason (unless they've signed free trade agreements obligating them to refrain from imposing tariffs). > What would your reaction be if China imposed tariffs on US-Canadian border crossings and seized American ships over it? Again, the ships in being sized were flying false f…

"Criminal" according to who?

The US? Then why does their law apply here?

International law? Like the ICC the US ignores? Or the climate agreements it breaks? Or the Geneva convention it runs afoul of?

Sure is convenient the US decided this one specific bit is to be taken extremely seriously.

Either way, it stinks of imperialism.

Re: Cuba says it has run out of fuel, blames U.S. embargo

#82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The US is not enforcing a blockade, it's an embargo. The US and other countries are refusing to trade with Cuba, but plenty of other countries can and do trade with Cuba. Cuba is not entitled to trade with the US. A blockade is when a country stops traffic, from entering a country's ports. It's an act of war, and a totally different thing from an embargo.

> The US is not enforcing a blockade, it's an embargo. Oh, so USA is only forcing their trade partners to embargo Cuba! That makes thing better, right?

It's not about better or worse. I think it's important to understand the actual situation first so that we may argue the on the issue at hand. Embargo and blockade are at different levels of escalation. Now we can discuss that the embargo and advocate for de-escalation

Re: Cuba says it has run out of fuel, blames U.S. embargo

#83
post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The US is explicitly not letting Cuba buy US goods, that's literally the only thing it's doing.

As noted above: The US is threatening tariffs on any nation that sells oil to Cuba. That's quite different from simply refusing to trade with it, it's effectively preventing Cuba from buying oil from Mexico, among other sources.

also physically preventing ships from delivering fuel to the Island. It's all even more cynical and hypocritical when compared to the strait of Hormuz debacle, how can the US pretend that Iran must allow oil tankers unobstructed passage (international laws, ships at sea bla bla bla) when the US is deliberately preventing oil ships to travel to Cuba.

Re: Cuba says it has run out of fuel, blames U.S. embargo

#84
There is a point where you are so weak, and your opponent is strong, that the best outcome for everyone on the whole is for you to just capitulate. Surrender.

I don't know if there is something I am missing, but to me, the "bad guy" in a situation like this is the one holding onto power at everyone else's (extreme) expense, throwing their own team into the fire to keep their power in place as long as possible.

Re: Cuba says it has run out of fuel, blames U.S. embargo

#85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Trump instituted tariffs on any country that sells oil to Cuba, it is effectively a blockade. It’s also in fact preventing ships carrying oil to reach the island, using their military, I wonder if there is a term for that.

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Trade in US Dollars with other countries need to go through US banks, which can be subject to prohibitions, which can be done by political motivation.

Also, the issue of the PetroDollar complicates things internationally as well. US throws a tantrum when small countries (or countries it can bully) trade Oil in other currencies. That is very important to keep themselves relevant and with some control over international trades.

Yet another aspect is that if any goods, regardless of who is selling it, contains more than 10% of components, technology, produced by a US company, such seller requires an US Export license to trade such goods with Cuba.

So it's not as simple as that.

https://shippingsolutionssoftware.com/blog/products-subject-...

Re: Cuba says it has run out of fuel, blames U.S. embargo

#86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/12/world/americas/venezuela-... > The oil tanker seized by the United States off the coast of Venezuela this week was part of the Venezuelan government’s effort to support Cuba, according to documents and people inside the Venezuelan oil industry. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/20/world/americas/cuba-oil-b... > Three days later, the U.S. Coast Guard intercepted a tanker full of Colomb…

This ship was flying a false flag [1], which makes it legal for governments to seize regardless of the situation with Cuba. 1. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/what-we-know-oil-tanker-the-ski...

And the Ocean Mariner, that they didn't seize, and just escorted out of the area?

Re: Cuba says it has run out of fuel, blames U.S. embargo

#87
post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The US is not enforcing a blockade, it's an embargo. The US and other countries are refusing to trade with Cuba, but plenty of other countries can and do trade with Cuba. Cuba is not entitled to trade with the US. A blockade is when a country stops traffic, from entering a country's ports. It's an act of war, and a totally different thing from an embargo.

FTA: “U.S. President Donald Trump resumed ramping up a six-decade-old American ecomonic embargo on Cuba in January after cutting off its main supply of oil from Venezuela and threatening sanctions on Mexico, its second largest supply, and any other country that provided oil to the island.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Cuban_crisis : “ The United States began blocking oil tankers heading to Cuba in February 2026…

No really, it's an embargo and a promise to tariff other countries that don't also embargo Cuba.

An embargo is like boycotting a store. A blockade is like standing around the store with a bunch of batons promising to apprehend anyone who tries to shop at the store.

They are not the same.

Re: Cuba says it has run out of fuel, blames U.S. embargo

#88
post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The US has been seizing fuel shipments en route to Cuba. What do you call that, if not a blockade?

They have been boarding ships that fly false flags. That is, they claim to be flying under the flag of some country. But when the US contacts that country to confirm that the ship is really registered there, the government of that country replies that the ship is not, in fact, registered. This is legal to do regardless of the embargo against Cuba. There are plenty of ships that move good and resources to Cuba that do…

Your comment makes it look like is a police action instead of interfering in the business of third countries in international waters, with the express goal of causing economic pain.

Re: Cuba says it has run out of fuel, blames U.S. embargo

#89
post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This ship was flying a false flag [1], which makes it legal for governments to seize regardless of the situation with Cuba. 1. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/what-we-know-oil-tanker-the-ski...

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This is a ridiculous false equivalence and muddies the waters of any serious dissent.

Re: Cuba says it has run out of fuel, blames U.S. embargo

#90
post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The US has been seizing fuel shipments en route to Cuba. What do you call that, if not a blockade?

They have been boarding ships that fly false flags. That is, they claim to be flying under the flag of some country. But when the US contacts that country to confirm that the ship is really registered there, the government of that country replies that the ship is not, in fact, registered. This is legal to do regardless of the embargo against Cuba. There are plenty of ships that move good and resources to Cuba that do…

I’m curious how it’s legal to size a ship in international waters under any circumstances? We have a word for that - piracy.
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