Cuban Coast Guard Kills Four in Confrontation with US-Registered Vessel

Cuban Coast Guard Fatally Shoots Four on U.S. Boat in Territorial Waters Dispute

Cuban authorities reported Wednesday that the island’s coast guard killed four people and injured six others in an exchange of gunfire with a U.S.-registered speedboat off Cuba’s northeastern coast.

According to Cuba’s Interior Ministry, the incident occurred when Cuban patrol vessels approached the Florida-registered boat to identify those on board. Officials stated that the confrontation began when occupants of the speedboat opened fire first, wounding a Cuban patrol captain and prompting return fire from Cuban forces.

The speedboat, bearing Florida registration number FL7726SH, was detected Wednesday morning in what Cuba claims were its territorial waters near the El Pino channel by Cayo Falcones in Villa Clara province. The ministry stated that when border troops moved to inspect the vessel, they were met with gunfire.

“As a consequence of the confrontation, as of the time of this report, four aggressors on the foreign vessel were killed and six were injured,” the ministry statement read. Cuban authorities confirmed that the injured individuals had been evacuated and were receiving medical treatment.

The deadly maritime incident occurs against a backdrop of historically tense U.S.-Cuba relations, which have seen fluctuations over the decades but remain fundamentally strained. Cuba maintains strict control over its coastal waters, particularly given its proximity to Florida, just 90 miles away.

Cuba defended its actions in the statement, emphasizing that “national defense is a fundamental pillar of the Cuban State in safeguarding its sovereignty and ensuring stability in the region.” Officials added that investigations are continuing to “fully clarify the events.”

The timing of the incident is particularly sensitive as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is currently in the Caribbean attending a summit of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in Saint Kitts and Nevis. Rubio, who has Cuban heritage and has been a vocal critic of the Cuban government throughout his political career, is meeting with regional leaders to discuss security concerns, economic cooperation, and U.S. policies affecting the hemisphere.

Maritime incidents between Cuba and vessels from the United States have occurred periodically over the years, though rarely with such deadly outcomes. The Cuban government has long accused the U.S. of facilitating illegal entries and exits from the island, while the United States has criticized Cuba’s harsh treatment of those attempting to flee the communist nation.

The incident also comes amid increasing economic hardship in Cuba, which has faced decades of U.S. sanctions. In recent years, Cuba has experienced its worst economic crisis since the fall of the Soviet Union, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which devastated the tourism industry – a key source of foreign currency for the island nation.

Cuban authorities have not released information about the identities of those killed or injured, nor have they specified the purpose of the speedboat’s presence in Cuban waters. U.S. officials have yet to issue a formal response to the incident.

This fatal confrontation underscores the ongoing tensions in the Straits of Florida, a narrow and politically complex waterway that has been the site of numerous migration attempts, interdictions, and occasional diplomatic flashpoints between the two countries with a long history of antagonism.

As investigations continue, both nations may face increased pressure to address maritime security protocols and communication channels to prevent similar deadly incidents in the future.