US concerned about Cuba oil drilling

US lawmakers have voiced concerns about offshore exploration being undertaken by Cuba's oil industry in the Gulf of Mexico.

The oil drilling is set to begin in December and the US acknowledged that it was worried about the development potentially ruining Florida's pristine white coastline.

It is thought that, should an oil spill occur in the Gulf, the poor diplomatic relationship between the two nations would hinder clean up efforts, making a clean up the size of that needed following the Deepwater Horizon disaster impossible to coordinate.

"The question is, are we going to get caught in some kind of political tangle that keeps us from bringing to bear the best response capability needed?" Jeff Bingaman, chairman of the Senate Energy Committee, told reporters.

In September this year, BP requested permission to resume drilling in the Gulf of Mexico following an explosion which caused the huge oil spill and resulted in the deaths of 11 workers.