Colombia’s President Acknowledges Fuel Loading for Seized Tanker

Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro confirmed on Sunday that the oil tanker, the Ocean Mariner, taken by the U.S. Coast Guard this month near Cuban waters, was loading fuel in Colombia.

According to ship tracking data cited by various sources, the U.S. Coast Guard seized the vessel over the weekend while it was about 110 miles from Cuba, with more than 84,000 barrels of Colombian fuel oil on board.

The ship reportedly made a sudden U-turn on February 11, seemingly realizing it was being monitored. The Coast Guard then anchored nearby on February 12, at which point the tanker claimed it was heading to the Dominican Republic.

The Coast Guard escorted the Ocean Mariner for nearly two days towards Dominican waters, and the report suggests the ship remained there for several days with a full load of fuel. On Thursday, the Coast Guard resumed escorting it, this time towards the Bahamas, which the tanker indicated as its destination.

In January, former President Donald Trump signed an executive order addressing national security threats linked to the Castro regime in Cuba. This order established tariffs for countries supplying oil to Cuba to counter the Cuban Communist Party’s negative influence.

This move came shortly after the Cuban regime lost access to Venezuelan oil shipments. The disruption occurred after a U.S. military operation apprehended Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in early January. Subsequently, the Venezuelan regime started collaborating with the U.S. to seek assistance in reviving its oil industry.

On January 11, Trump emphasized via social media that no oil or financial resources should go to Cuba and suggested reaching a deal urgently.

Before the disruptions, Cuba had also relied on oil from Mexico’s leftist government, but new shipments have stopped since January.

The Ocean Mariner, originally reported as an “official” carrier for Mexican fuel bound for Cuba, last delivered oil to Cuba on January 9. Following that, it docked in Barranquilla, Colombia, on January 29, the same day Trump issued his executive order. Although the tanker broadcast its destination as the Dominican Republic, it altered its route toward Cuba on February 10.

A local newspaper, El Tiempo, confirmed that the Ocean Mariner was loaded in Colombia, based on documented inspections by Colombian authorities prior to its departure.

One document referenced by El Tiempo indicated that alarms were raised due to Trump’s executive order. The tanker has a history of shipping oil to Cuba and customs officials had been alerted to potential legal concerns about its cargo, prompting an inspection.

El Tiempo further reported that the seller of the fuel oil is ISM, licensed to sell and export products, while the fuel was initially purchased by Monarch Security Latin America Inc. in Panama City. An anonymous Colombian official revealed to El Tiempo that the parties involved in the fuel transaction exchanged letters regarding the ship’s intended destination.

This situation has led to speculation about attempts to supply oil to Cuba, defying Trump’s warnings and executive order. Petro addressed the controversy in a social media post, responding to accusations from journalist Vicky Dávila that he was corrupt and colluding to send oil to Cuba.

While Petro acknowledged that the tanker was loaded with Colombian fuel, he insisted that it was the action of a private company, which had claimed to be taking the oil to the Dominican Republic.

Petro firmly denied any wrongdoing in relation to the ship and its fuel, stating, “There has been no wrongdoing in Colombia, public or private.”

He further added, “Locking down one country against another only leads to genocide and the suffering of its people.” Petro advocated for connecting Cuba with the world, emphasizing cultural exchanges and humanitarian efforts, highlighting Cuba’s role in global health initiatives.

In his closing thoughts, Petro invited Dávila and others to appreciate Cuban music as a representation of cultural achievements, mentioning a Cuban song that resonates with him personally.