While four people on board a boat registered in Florida were killed and six injured in an exchange of fire with the Cuban coast guard on Wednesday, American authorities assure that they are investigating this shooting and will act “accordingly”.
Published on: 02/26/2026 - 11:57 Modified on: 02/26/2026 - 22:31
After Cuba shot dead four occupants of a Florida-registered speedboat off the island and denounced an attempt at "infiltration for terrorist purposes", the head of American diplomacy Marco Rubio announced on Wednesday February 26 that his country was investigating this shooting and would act "accordingly".
"As we gather more information, we will be ready to respond accordingly," he said on the sidelines of a meeting of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) in the archipelago of Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Asked whether this episode involved U.S. government personnel or was a U.S. government operation, Marco Rubio flatly replied: "No."
Marco Rubio, the Miami-born son of Cuban immigrants, said recently that the Trump administration hopes its economic influence will help overthrow what he called the "illegitimate regime" in Havana.
Also read: Marco Rubio, anti-communist and architect of Donald Trump's offensive on Venezuela
Before Havana's announcement about the presence of an armed group on board, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the opening of a judicial investigation. “The Cuban government cannot be trusted and we will do everything in our power to hold these communists accountable for their actions,” he wrote on X.
US Vice President JD Vance said the United States was “monitoring” the situation.
“Terrorist attack”
For his part, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canela assured that Cuba will defend itself with “determination” in the face of any “terrorist aggression” against its sovereignty.
“Cuba will defend itself with determination and firmness in the face of any terrorist and mercenary aggression against its sovereignty and national stability,” the head of state declared on X.
Read alsoCuba: why armed men attempted an incursion in the midst of a crisis
"Cuba has had to face numerous terrorist and aggressive infiltrations from the United States since 1959", the year of the revolution led by former leader Fidel Castro, "with a high cost in human lives, injuries and material damage", denounced, also on X, the Cuban Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bruno Rodriguez.
Relations between Cuba and the United States have experienced renewed tension since the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by American forces in early January and the cessation by Caracas, under pressure from Washington, of oil deliveries to Cuba.
With AFP
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