Brazil rules out energy aid to Cuba for fear of sanctions on Petrobras
The Brazilian government has ruled out offering energy aid to Cuba due to fears that Petrobras will be the target of sanctions from the United States. Behind the scenes at Palácio do Planalto, the assessment is that the risk for the state-owned company is high due to the company's presence on the New York Stock Exchange.
Planalto's assistants claim that, although the President of the United States, Donald Trump, has not made a direct request for Brazil to stop supporting Cuba, the tightening of sanctions imposed on the island makes any Brazilian initiative to supply fuel unfeasible.
On the other hand, the federal government is preparing a new shipment of humanitarian aid to the island, sending food and medicine. During the Brazilian delegation's trip to Barcelona, in April, representatives from Brazil discussed with agencies from Spain and Mexico a joint action to send products to Cuban territory.
On Thursday (21), Russia stated that it will continue to provide active support to Cuba, despite attempts by the United States to intimidate and tighten the "noose of sanctions" around the socialist-ruled island republic.
Earlier this year, the United States stopped supplying fuel to the island. In response, Russia sent around 100,000 tons of oil to the Cuban government at the end of March.
In Planalto, the reading is that the Russian willingness to increase support for Cuba is linked to the fact that Moscow already faces sanctions imposed by the United States due to the war in Ukraine.
Members of the Brazilian government also assess that the international scenario, marked by the escalation of tension in the Middle East, further reduces the space for any Brazilian initiative in the energy area.
The fear is that possible sanctions on Petrobras could affect the government's efforts to contain the rise in fuel prices in the domestic market.
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Source: CNN