Cuba says group shot on US-registered speedboat planned 'armed infiltration'

February 26, 2026

Cuban border guards intercepted a US-registered speedboat approximately one nautical mile off Cuba's northern coast, resulting in a deadly confrontation that killed four people and injured six others, plus one Cuban commander. Cuban authorities claim the vessel's occupants, identified as Cuban nationals residing in the United States, fired first and were planning a terrorist infiltration, while weapons and explosives were allegedly recovered from the boat. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called the incident "highly unusual" and stated Washington will independently investigate rather than rely on Cuban information.

Who is affected

Four deceased individuals aboard the speedboat (one named by Cuban officials)
Six injured survivors from the speedboat, all identified as Cuban nationals residing in the US
An 11th person arrested and allegedly confessed to participating in the plot
The Cuban boat commander who was injured in the firefight
The broader Cuban population facing oil and fuel shortages
US-Cuba diplomatic relations and Caribbean regional stability

What action is being taken

The US government is independently investigating the incident
Cuban authorities are providing medical assistance to the six evacuated survivors
The US Treasury is easing some small private sector transactions, including oil sales, to Cuba for commercial and humanitarian use
The Trump administration is blocking oil shipments from Venezuela to Cuba and threatening tariffs on other nations delivering oil to the island

Why it matters

This incident significantly escalates already tense US-Cuba relations during a period of aggressive Trump administration pressure on Cuba's Communist government. The deadly confrontation occurs nearly 30 years after a similar 1996 incident that triggered major US outrage, raising concerns about potential diplomatic fallout and regional instability. The timing is particularly significant as Cuba faces severe oil shortages due to US-imposed restrictions, while Washington simultaneously demands dramatic economic and political reforms from Havana. The incident also highlights the ongoing disputes over Cuban territorial waters and the volatile intersection of migration, alleged terrorism, and geopolitical tensions in the Caribbean region.

What's next

Washington will independently verify the facts of the case and determine what those on board were doing in the area
Secretary of State Rubio has called for Cuba to "make dramatic reforms" and "open the space for both economic, and eventually political, freedom"
The Trump administration's unspecified consequences threatened if Cuba doesn't "make a deal" remain pending

Read full article from source: BBC