A deadly confrontation unfolded off Cuba’s coast when a US-registered speedboat allegedly opened fire on border patrol vessels, prompting return fire that killed four people and injured six others. The incident, occurring one nautical mile from Cuban waters, has intensified strains between the United States and Cuba.

Details of the Confrontation

Cuban border guard troops approached the speedboat for identification with a vessel carrying five service members. Officials report that the speedboat’s crew fired first, wounding the Cuban vessel’s commander. In response, Cuban forces engaged, resulting in four fatalities and six injuries aboard the foreign vessel. The wounded received immediate medical evacuation and treatment.

Authorities plan a full investigation to establish the facts. Cuba emphasizes its sovereign right to defend territorial waters amid ongoing regional challenges.

US Political Reactions

Republican Congressman Carlos Gimenez condemned the event, stating, “The dictatorship in Cuba has just attacked a boat from Florida and murdered those on board.” He further declared that “this regime must be relegated to the dustbin of history.”

Gimenez also criticized Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness, who urged “responsible leadership and constructive dialogue” between the US and Cuba to reduce tensions and foster stability. Gimenez accused Holness of a “cover-up for the moribund dictatorship in Cuba” and warned, “Jamaica will face the consequences!”

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking from an airport in St. Kitts and Nevis after regional visits, noted that US agencies are collecting intelligence. “We have various different elements of the US government that are trying to identify elements of the story that may not be provided to us now,” Rubio said.

Broadening US-Cuba Tensions

The clash exacerbates existing frictions from a US fuel blockade imposed by President Trump, including punitive tariffs on countries trading oil with Cuba. This has deepened Cuba’s energy crisis, as the nation relies heavily on imports from Venezuela and Mexico.

United Nations Human Rights Office data highlights severe impacts: food shortages, disrupted water supplies, overwhelmed hospitals, and fuel shortages hampering ambulances. Aviation groundings have crippled tourism, with Canadian airlines and Air Canada canceling flights, followed by Russian carriers Rossiya and Nordwind.

Record low temperatures, including 0°C on February 3, compound blackouts affecting millions in eastern provinces like Guantánamo, Santiago de Cuba, Holguín, and Granma, as well as Havana. US naval patrols in the North Atlantic block oil shipments, echoing tactics not seen since the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Shipping analysis reveals Cuban tankers rarely departing ports. Trump has warned Cuba to “make a deal before it’s too late” and endorsed suggestions of Marco Rubio as a potential future leader.