Cuban soldiers killed four and wounded six on a Florida-registered speedboat in Cuban waters, claiming the boat fired first. U.S. officials are independently investigating the 'highly unusual' incident, refusing to rely solely on Cuba's account, amidst escalating U.S.-Cuba tensions.
Cuban soldiers killed four people and wounded six others aboard a Florida-registered speed boat that had entered Cuban waters, with the Cuban government claiming the boat opened fire first. One Cuban officer was injured in the incident, which occurred about 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) northeast of Cayo Falcones, off Cuba’s north coast. U.S. President Donald Trump’s top diplomat, Marco Rubio, refused to speculate on the events, calling it 'highly unusual' and stressing that the U.S. would not solely rely on information provided by Cuban authorities. He confirmed that both the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Coast Guard are investigating to independently verify the facts, noting it was not a U.S. government operation. U.S. Vice President JD Vance was briefed and the White House is monitoring the situation. Florida’s Attorney General, James Uthmeier, has also ordered an investigation, stating the 'Cuban government cannot be trusted' and vowing to 'hold these communists accountable.' The purpose of the boat in Cuban waters remains unknown, as boat registrations are not public in Florida. While skirmishes between U.S.-flagged boats and Cuba's Coast Guard are not uncommon, shootouts with fatalities are rare. This incident threatens to further escalate already high tensions between the U.S. and Cuba, following the Trump administration's aggressive stance and new economic pressures on the island, including tariffs on oil shipments.
