Cuba denounces US seizure of oil tanker off Venezuela's coast as piracy'

"Cuban officials have denounced the US seizure of the Skipper oil tanker off Venezuela's coast on Wednesday, calling it an act of piracy and maritime terrorism as well as a serious violation of international law that hurts the Caribbean island nation and its people. This action is part of the US escalation aimed at hampering Venezuela's legitimate right to freely use and trade its natural resources with other nations, including the supplies of hydrocarbons to Cuba, the Cuban foreign ministry statement said."

"The tanker, which was reported now to be heading for Galveston, Texas, was believed to loaded with nearly 2m barrels of Venezuela's heavy crude, according to internal data from the Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA, according to the New York Times. The Skipper's destination was listed as the Cuban port of Matanzas, the outlet said. But two days after its departure, it off-loaded an estimated 50,000 barrels to another ship, which then headed north toward Cuba while the Skipper headed east toward Asia."

"Cuba has long relied on Venezuelan oil exports in return for medical expertise, sports instructors and security personnel who surround the Venezuelan president, Nicolas Maduro and are considered loyal and effective in providing personal protection. However, the vast majority of subsidized oil destined for Cuba has been resold to China for badly needed foreign currency, the Times assessed. The Venezuela-Cuba component of the Skipper's seizure comes as Reuters reported that Venezuelan oil exports have reportedly fallen sharply since the tanker was seized."

Cuban officials condemned the US seizure of the Skipper tanker off Venezuela's coast, labeling it piracy and maritime terrorism and saying it violates international law. The seizure is portrayed as part of a US escalation intended to impede Venezuela's trade in natural resources and to cut hydrocarbon supplies to Cuba. The tanker was believed loaded with nearly two million barrels of heavy crude and had Matanzas listed as its destination, though it off-loaded about 50,000 barrels to another ship. Cuba relies on Venezuelan oil in exchange for personnel and services, and much subsidized oil has been resold for foreign currency. Reported Venezuelan exports have fallen sharply since the seizure, and the US Treasury imposed new sanctions on shipping entities dealing with Venezuela.

Read at www.theguardian.com