Cuba says it is communicating with US after fatal boat shooting but seeks more details

Cuban officials confirmed Thursday they are in communication with U.S. authorities following a deadly confrontation in Cuban waters that left at least one American citizen dead and another wounded.

Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío told reporters that Cuba is prepared to share information with U.S. officials about the incident and plans to request details about the suspects involved and how they organized their journey.

“The U.S. government has shown willingness to cooperate in clarifying the facts,” Fernández de Cossío said during a press briefing in Havana where he declined to take questions from journalists.

The incident occurred Wednesday morning when, according to Cuba’s Ministry of the Interior, a Florida-registered speedboat carrying 10 armed Cubans from the United States entered Cuban waters and opened fire on Cuban soldiers stationed along the island’s northern coast. Cuban forces returned fire, killing four suspects and wounding six others. One Cuban official was also injured in the exchange.

A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the ongoing investigation, confirmed that at least one American citizen was killed and another wounded. The official added that another crew member was in the U.S. on a visa, while several others may have been green card holders.

The vessel involved, a 1981 Pro Line boat, was reported stolen from the Florida Keys, according to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. The boat’s owner told authorities that he lives in Miami-Dade County but keeps his boat at a property in Big Pine Key. He reportedly discovered it missing after receiving calls from reporters and noted he hadn’t seen the 24-foot vessel in more than a week.

Cuban authorities claim they recovered an arsenal of weapons and equipment from the boat, including assault and sniper rifles, pistols, night vision equipment, bayonets, camouflage clothing, combat rations, and communication devices. Fernández de Cossío specifically mentioned finding “a large number of insignia from counterrevolutionary terrorist organizations.”

“This information is still preliminary. More details will be provided in the coming days,” the deputy foreign minister stated.

The Cuban government has published a list naming the alleged suspects and accused them of planning to invade the island and commit acts of terrorism. Fernández de Cossío noted that two of the detained individuals were already on a list of people Cuba claims have been involved in “promoting, financing, and organizing violent and terrorist acts against Cuba,” and said they “enjoyed impunity within U.S. territory.”

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged on Wednesday evening that the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Coast Guard are investigating the incident. “The majority of the facts being publicly reported are those by the information provided by the Cubans. We will verify that independently as we gather more information, and we’ll be prepared to respond accordingly,” Rubio said.

In Havana, the incident has sparked considerable debate among residents. Efraín Scotland, an 88-year-old street musician, expressed disbelief that a small group would attempt to challenge the Cuban government: “What the hell? No, my friend, no, that’s not going to bring down a nation.”

Construction worker Roberto Henry Figueredo, 48, praised Cuba’s response: “That hail of bullets that we unleashed was good. If they fire at us, we’re going to eat those bullets.”

Rafael M. Hernández, a Cuban political scientist, raised questions about the motives behind the incident during an online briefing: “What were they doing? What were they looking for? Were they starting a liberation movement in Cuba? Were they trying to sabotage the Cuban economy?” He characterized the alleged operation as “silly and counterproductive.”

Some Havana residents worry the confrontation could further strain the already tense U.S.-Cuba relationship, which has deteriorated in recent years amid tightened sanctions. Last month, the U.S. threatened to impose tariffs on any country selling or providing oil to Cuba, which has significantly impacted the island’s fuel supply since Venezuela halted its petroleum shipments.

“I expect things to get more tense,” said Rosa Larrondo, a 54-year-old Havana resident who described the shooting as “a violation of the sovereignty of the Cuban people.”

The incident represents the latest flashpoint in the complex and fraught relationship between the neighboring countries, as both sides continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deadly confrontation.