At least one American citizen was reportedly shot dead, and another was injured during a confrontation between Cuban authorities and a Florida-registered speedboat that entered Cuban territorial waters on Wednesday, U.S. officials and Cuban authorities have confirmed.
Cuban forces fired on the vessel after it was intercepted about one nautical mile off Cayo Falcones on the country’s northern coast, according to statements from the Cuban Interior Ministry. Havana said the speedboat’s occupants opened fire on border troops, wounding the commander of the Cuban patrol vessel. Cuban forces then returned fire, killing four people and injuring six others aboard the boat.
Cuban authorities have identified at least two of the passengers on the speedboat as U.S. citizens living in the United States, with one among those killed and another injured and receiving medical care in Cuba. A third passenger was reportedly in the U.S. on a visa, and others may be legal permanent residents, U.S. officials said.
The incident has heightened tensions amid already strained U.S. – Cuba relations and sparked international attention as both sides continue to investigate the deadly encounter.
The Cuban government alleged that the group was armed and planning an “infiltration for terrorist purposes,” saying weapons including assault rifles, handguns, Molotov cocktails and tactical gear were found on the vessel. Havana claims the occupants fired first during the encounter.
Both Washington and Havana have said investigations are underway. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States is gathering its own information and denied any U.S. government involvement in the incident. Rubio described the exchange of gunfire as “highly unusual,” and U.S. authorities, including the Coast Guard and Department of Homeland Security, are examining the circumstances.
Cuban President Miguel Díaz‑Canel vowed this week that Cuba would defend its sovereignty against “terrorist and mercenary aggression,” while Cuba’s deputy foreign minister said the two countries are communicating to clarify the events.