One US Citizen Reportedly Killed by Cuban Coast Guard While Intercepting Speedboat
Diplomatic tensions between the United States and Cuba have flared up again. At least one US citizen was reportedly killed and another injured by Cuban authorities while intercepting a speedboat off the northern coast of Cuba on Wednesday (February 25).
The incident began when a Cuban coast guard vessel intercepted the Florida-registered boat about one nautical mile from Cayo Falcones. According to US officials, of the 10 people on board, four were killed and six injured. One of the victims was identified as a US citizen, while another was a K-1 visa holder (fiancé of a US citizen).
The Cuban government issued a strong statement accusing the passengers of the boat of planning a “terrorist infiltration.” The Cuban Interior Ministry claimed that the speedboat fired first, injuring the commander of the Cuban patrol boat.
During a search, Cuban authorities claimed to have found handguns, assault rifles, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Cuba stated that all passengers were Cuban citizens living in the US and most had criminal records. Meanwhile, the boat’s owner in Florida claims that the boat was stolen by an employee.
US Senator Marco Rubio stated that Washington is investigating the incident, which he called “very unusual.” Rubio stressed that the incident was not an official US operation and did not involve government personnel.
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel issued a stern warning on social media: “Cuba will defend itself with determination and firmness against any terrorist aggression and mercenaries seeking to affect our national sovereignty and stability. Cuba does not attack, nor does it threaten,” Díaz-Canel said.
This tragedy occurred just two months after US forces seized Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, a close ally of Cuba. This was accompanied by harsh sanctions by President Donald Trump that blocked oil supplies to Cuba, exacerbating the energy crisis on the island.
However, there are contradictory signals from Washington. On the same day as the shooting incident, the US Treasury Department announced the easing of some small private sector transactions, including the sale of oil for “commercial and humanitarian purposes for the Cuban people.”
The incident occurred almost exactly 30 years after a similar incident in 1996, when Cuban defense forces shot down two civilian aircraft belonging to the Brothers to the Rescue group, killing four people and sparking outrage in the United States. (BBC/Z-2)
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