Medellin, Colombia – A Cuban Coast Guard trooper traveling in a Florida-registered speedboat entered the island’s territorial waters this morning and opened fire on Cuban authorities, killing four people and wounding six, Havana said in a statement.
According to a statement released by the Cuban Ministry of the Interior (MININT), all 10 people on board the boat were believed to be armed and were identified as Cuban nationals residing in the United States.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions between Havana and Washington as President Donald Trump’s administration has blocked oil from reaching the island in recent weeks.
According to MININT, the Cuban Coast Guard was approaching the boat to ask for identification when the boat opened fire, wounding the border guard captain.
“Cuba reaffirms its commitment to protecting its territorial waters based on the principle that national defense is a fundamental pillar of the Cuban state to protect the sovereignty and stability of the region,” MININT said in a statement Wednesday afternoon.
According to the Department of Maritime Affairs, the boat with license FL7726SH approached within 1 nautical mile northwest of the Pino Channel in Cayo Falcones, located in the province of Villa Clara.
Six people injured in the fighting that day were evacuated to Cuba and received medical support.
MININT has not yet released information about the identities of the speedboat members or their potential motives.
The United States said it was investigating the incident, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters, “We’re going to find out exactly what happened, who was involved, and we’re going to make decisions based on what we find out.”
The shooting occurred amid heightened tensions between the United States and Cuba. Washington’s January 3 attack on Caracas and the subsequent arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro allowed the United States to cut off Venezuelan oil supplies to Cuba. This was the island’s vital lifeline.
Then, on January 29, Trump issued an executive order imposing tariffs on all countries supplying oil to Cuba, causing massive fuel shortages across the country and frequent power outages and flight cancellations.
Amid the crisis, the United Nations warned of a burgeoning “humanitarian collapse” in Cuba. Some countries, such as Mexico, Russia, and Canada, attempted to bypass the blockade and send aid to Cuba. There has also been public reaction to the sanctions, including the Nuestra America flotilla, which plans to sail to Cuba with humanitarian aid in March.
In another development today, the U.S. Treasury announced it would authorize the resale of Venezuelan oil to private companies in Cuba, according to Reuters.
There were also reports that Rubio was negotiating with Raúl Guillermo Rodriguez Castro, the grandson and guardian of Raúl Castro, now 94, a key figure in the 1959 revolution.
Some analysts have drawn parallels with the recent situation in Venezuela, suggesting the United States is seeking a deal with the Cuban government that could see it ease political repression and open its economy to American companies.
It is not yet known whether this shooting incident at sea will turn out to be an isolated security incident, or whether it could become a pretext for a larger incident.
Featured image caption: Cuban Coast Guard.
Featured image source: Cuban Ministry of Interior (via Facebook)
