Medellín, Colombia – Cuba’s coast guard killed four people and injured six others travelling on a Florida-registered speedboat which entered the island’s territorial waters this morning and opened fire on Cuban authorities, according to a statement by Havana.
The ten people aboard the boat were all allegedly armed and have been identified as Cuban nationals residing in the United States, according to a statement released by the Cuban Ministry of the Interior (MININT).
The incident comes amid heightened tensions between Havana and Washington, with the Donald Trump administration blocking oil from reaching the island in recent weeks.
The Cuban coast guard was reportedly approaching the boat to request its identification when the latter opened fire, injuring the commander of the border guard vessel, according to the MININT.
“Cuba reaffirms its commitment to protecting its territorial waters, based on the principle that national defense is a fundamental pillar of the Cuban state in order to protect its sovereignty and stability in the region,” said MININT in a statement Wednesday afternoon.
According to the ministry, the boat, with the license FL7726SH approached within one nautical mile northwest of the Pino Channel, in Cayo Falcones which is located in the country’s Villa Clara province.
The six people injured in the confrontation have been evacuated to Cuba and given medical assistance.
MININT is yet to release any information about the identities or potential motivations of the members of the speedboat.
The United States said it was investigating the incident, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio telling reporters: “We’re going to find out exactly what happened, who was involved, and we’ll make a determination on the basis of what we find out.”
The shooting comes amid increased tensions between the United States and Cuba. Washington’s January 3 attack on Caracas and subsequent capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro allowed the U.S. to cut off Venezuelan oil supplies to Cuba, a key lifeline for the island.
Then, on January 29, Trump issued an executive order authorizing tariffs on any country that supplies oil to Cuba, which has led to massive fuel shortages across the country and led to frequent blackouts and flight cancellations.
Amid the crisis, the United Nations has warned of a burgeoning “humanitarian collapse” in Cuba. Some countries, such as Mexico, Russia, and Canada, have attempted to bypass the blockades, sending aid shipments to Cuba. There have also been popular responses to the sanctions, such as the Nuestra América flotilla which plans to sail to Cuba with humanitarian aid in March.
In another development today, the U.S. Treasury Department announced that it would authorize the resale of Venezuelan oil to private companies in Cuba, according to Reuters.
There have also been reports that Rubio has been in negotiations with Raúl Guillermo Rodriguez Castro, the grandson and carer of the now 94-year-old Raúl Castro, a key figure in the 1959 revolution.
Some analysts have drawn parallels with recent developments in Venezuela, suggesting that Washington is looking to strike a deal with the Cuban government that will see the loosening of political repression and the opening of the economy to U.S. business.
It remains to be seen whether the maritime shooting will prove to be an isolated security incident or if it could potentially serve as a pretext to something bigger.
Featured image description: Cuban Coast Guard.
Featured image credit: Cuban Ministry of the Interior via Facebook.
