What to Make of Cuba Shooting Four People Dead in US Speedboat?

Daniel Cancel, Bloomberg Miami Bureau Chief, reports on a developing incident where Cuban authorities say they shot and killed four people aboard a speedboat approximately one mile off the Cuban coast. According to the Cuban Interior Ministry, the speedboat had 10 occupants who allegedly opened fire first, prompting the Cuban military to return fire. Six others were injured and taken to Cuba for medical treatment. Details such as the identities, nationalities, and intentions of those on the boat have not been disclosed. On the US side, official responses have been limited, with the Coast Guard deferring comments to state authorities and no statement from the White House. Florida Governor DeSantis was briefed by the Coast Guard, but no public statement has been issued. The Florida Attorney General has called for an investigation. Overall, many questions remain unanswered as the situation continues to unfold.

Cuban forces killed four people who had opened fire from a speedboat with Florida tags, an incident with the potential to escalate an already tense standoff with the US.

The vessel approached within one nautical mile off the coast of Villa Clara early Wednesday, Cuba’s Interior Ministry said in a statement. When security forces approached to identify the passengers, the occupants started shooting at border patrol, injuring the commander of the military vessel. Six others on the speedboat were wounded and are being provided with medical care.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters on Wednesday afternoon that the Department of Homeland Security and Coast Guard would be looking into the incident, as the US must independently verify the information that came from the Cuban government.

Marco Rubio speaks to reporters before departing St. Kitts.

“We are going to find out exactly what happened here and we will respond accordingly,” he said in the evening before leaving St. Kitts, where he attended the Caricom summit. “We’re going to have our own information,” the secretary added. “Suffice to say, it is highly unusual to see shootouts in the open sea like that.”

The New York Times cited a US official saying that no US Naval or Coast Guard boat was involved, but that it was a US civilian vessel attempting to get relatives out of Cuba. The vessel is a 24-foot Pro-Line fishing boat built in 1981 with an outboard engine, according to Boat History Report.

The Pentagon, US Southern Command and the US Coast Guard didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.

Vice President JD Vance told reporters at the White House on Wednesday afternoon that details were still scant, but “it’s not as bad as we fear it could be.”  Florida Congressman Carlos Gimenez said in a statement posted to X that the incident was a “massacre” and demanded an investigation to determine whether any of the victims were US citizens or “legal residents.”

While the details of the incident remain unclear, “it shows that Cuba is willing to use force to assert control, while also signaling deterrence,” said Brian Fonseca, director of Florida International University’s Institute for Public Policy.

Since removing Nicolas Maduro from power in Venezuela in early January, Donald Trump’s administration has turned its attention to the communist-run island as it seeks to consolidate its influence in Latin America. The US has effectively imposed a naval blockade on Cuba, dramatically reduced its access to fuel. It has pressured other nations to stop using Cuban health workers, which generates much-needed hard currency for the island, particularly now that its tourism industry has taken a hit. Trump has also mused about the collapse of the six-decade-old regime.

Trump had appeared to be providing some relief for Cuba as recently as Tuesday, when the government signaled it would allow fuel imports for private businesses on the island.

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