Cuban Coast Guard Kills Four on US-Registered Speedboat Near Villa Clara

Cuban coast guard shot dead four people and injured six others aboard a U.S.-registered speedboat near Villa Clara, claiming the vessel fired first. U.S. officials, including Florida politicians, have called for an investigation. The incident occurs amid U.S. fuel restrictions on Cuba and rising regional concerns over instability.

The Cuban Interior Ministry reported on Wednesday that its coast guard shot dead four people and injured six others aboard a speedboat registered in the United States after a confrontation near Cuba’s northern coast. According to the ministry, the speedboat was detected approximately one nautical mile from Cayos Falcones in Villa Clara province when it allegedly opened fire on the Cuban vessel, injuring the commander. In response, the coast guard returned fire, killing four of the occupants and wounding six others, who were subsequently evacuated and received medical treatment. The ministry emphasized its ongoing commitment to defending Cuban territorial waters and preventing unauthorized incursions.
The incident has prompted immediate concern from U.S. officials. Carlos Gimenez, a Cuban-born Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida, called for “an immediate investigation into this massacre,” urging U.S. authorities to determine whether any victims were U.S. citizens or legal residents and to establish the precise circumstances surrounding the confrontation. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier responded by instructing the Office of Statewide Prosecution to collaborate with federal, state, and law enforcement partners to conduct an investigation into the incident.
The shooting occurred amid heightened tensions between Cuba and the United States, exacerbated by recent U.S. policies aimed at restricting fuel supplies to Cuba. The Trump-era blockade on Venezuelan oil shipments, a primary energy source for the island, has severely impacted daily life in Cuba, causing widespread power outages, disrupting essential services, and limiting access to basic necessities. In a recent policy shift, the U.S. Treasury Department greenlit the resale of Venezuelan oil to Cuba if it benefits the Cuban private sector rather than the government, illustrating the complex interplay between economic sanctions and humanitarian concerns.
The timing of the coast guard shooting also coincides with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s meetings with Caribbean leaders at a CARICOM summit. Regional officials have expressed concern that ongoing economic and political instability in Cuba could have destabilizing effects throughout the Caribbean, potentially prompting migration flows and broader regional tensions. Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness warned that a prolonged crisis in Cuba would not remain confined to the island, while Saint Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Terrance Drew cautioned that destabilization in Cuba could affect neighboring countries.
The Cuban authorities described the occupants of the speedboat as “aggressors” and highlighted their right to protect national sovereignty. Meanwhile, the incident has drawn attention to the broader geopolitical and humanitarian context in which Cuba is operating, including the country’s dependence on external oil suppliers such as Venezuela, Mexico, and Russia, and the ongoing economic pressure from international sanctions. U.S. political and law enforcement authorities are expected to continue their investigations into the shooting, seeking to clarify the identities of those on the speedboat and the exact circumstances that led to the deadly encounter.