A violent and mysterious confrontation in the waters off Cuba has ignited a fierce diplomatic row and a promise of thorough investigation from the United States. A shootout involving a Florida-registered speedboat left four people dead and six injured, sparking immediate alarm and skepticism in Washington.
Cuba’s Ministry of the Interior claims its border troops were protecting their territorial waters on Wednesday morning when a boat, which had illegally entered their zone, “opened fire” on them. Cuban guards allegedly returned fire, resulting in the casualties. However, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio quickly dismissed Cuba’s account as unreliable, calling such an open-sea shootout “highly unusual.” “We’re going to find out exactly what happened and then we will respond accordingly,” Rubio vowed, making it clear the US would not base its conclusions on what Cuba says.
Vice President JD Vance also stated the Trump administration is working to gather more information, hoping the situation isn’t “as bad as we fear.” Florida officials are taking a particularly strong stance. Attorney General James Uthmeier announced his own investigation, declaring the “Cuban government cannot be trusted” and promising to “hold these communists accountable.” Florida Congressman Carlos Gimenez went further, labeling the incident a “massacre” and demanding the abolishment of the current Cuban presidency.
While the boat’s ownership and the nationalities of those on board remain unclear, an official told The New York Times that it was a US civilian vessel reportedly attempting to evacuate relatives from Cuba. Rubio confirmed the 1981, 24-foot power boat was not part of any US government operation. This incident escalates tensions already simmering between Havana and Washington, fueled by Cuba’s severe economic crisis and recent US anti-trafficking operations in the Caribbean. With both nations launching probes, the full truth behind this tragic encounter, and its implications for future US-Cuba relations, is yet to unfold.
