US-Cuba Tensions Escalate; Russia Speaks Out
Russia has warned of escalating tensions in Cuba following a deadly incident involving a US-registered speedboat in the nation’s territorial waters.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Moscow was monitoring the escalation of the situation in Cuba following the maritime collision incident. The Kremlin assessed that the situation in Cuba was deteriorating, particularly from a humanitarian perspective, amid prolonged economic and energy crises.
“We see that the situation around Cuba is escalating. The most important thing is the humanitarian component. The humanitarian issues of Cuban citizens must be resolved, and nobody should create obstacles,” Peskov told reporters on Friday, 27 February 2026.
The statement came shortly after Cuba’s Interior Ministry reported that the country’s border guards killed four people and wounded six others in a confrontation with a Florida-registered speedboat off northern Cuba’s coast.
According to Cuban authorities, the vessel entered territorial waters without authorisation. The ten passengers aboard reportedly opened fire at Cuban patrols, prompting the authorities to return fire.
Cuba’s Interior Ministry stated that all vessel passengers were Cuban citizens residing in the United States, described as armed and some having prior criminal records. Authorities seized various items from the boat, including assault rifles, pistols, improvised explosive devices, and camouflage uniforms.
From Washington, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the incident as “highly unusual”.
“This is a very unusual event, and we will respond appropriately after conducting an independent investigation,” Rubio said.
The incident occurs amid severe economic pressure on Cuba, particularly due to a fuel crisis. Havana blames the situation partly on US policy restricting oil supplies to the Caribbean nation.
The Trump administration previously stated that Cuba posed an “unusual and extraordinary threat” and pledged to impose tariffs on any nation supplying oil to Cuba. Cuba has condemned the move, calling it unilateral pressure.
Due to fuel constraints, the Cuban government has implemented austerity measures, including restricting energy supplies to key sectors to maintain essential public services.
The situation has also sparked international concern. The United Nations has warned of a potential humanitarian “collapse” in Cuba if oil supplies continue to diminish.