Cuban border guards shot and killed four people aboard a Florida-registered speedboat on Wednesday morning after what authorities described as an exchange of gunfire in Cuban territorial waters, an incident that has intensified already strained relations between Havana and Washington.
Cuba’s Ministry of the Interior said the vessel was detected near Cayo Falcones in Villa Clara province and that its crew opened fire when approached by a Cuban patrol boat seeking identification.
According to the ministry, the confrontation left four people dead and six others injured, while the commander of the Cuban vessel was wounded.
The identities and nationalities of those on board remain unclear, and Cuban officials said an investigation is underway.
In a statement posted on social media, the ministry said the Florida-registered vessel, identified as FL7726SH, was intercepted by a border guard boat carrying five personnel.
“The crew of the violating speedboat opened fire on the Cuban personnel, resulting in the injury of the commander of the Cuban vessel,” the statement said.
“As of the time of this report, four aggressors on the foreign vessel were killed, and six were injured.”
Cuban authorities said the injured were evacuated and provided medical assistance.
Officials added that they did not know what activities the vessel was engaged in at the time of the shooting.
The ministry framed the response as part of Cuba’s broader effort to defend its sovereignty and territorial waters.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking from a Caribbean Community conference in St Kitts and Nevis, said the boat was not part of a US government operation and that Washington was gathering facts independently.
“It is highly unusual to see shootouts on the open sea like that. It's not something that happens everyday,” Rubio said.
He added that the US Coast Guard had traveled to the vicinity and that officials were seeking access to determine whether any of those involved were US citizens or residents.
US Vice President JD Vance said the White House was “monitoring” the situation.
Florida lawmakers, including Congressman Carlos Gimenez and Senator Rick Scott, called for a full investigation, with the state’s attorney general, James Uthmeier, announcing a local probe.
The shooting comes amid heightened tensions between the two countries, including expanded US economic pressure on Cuba and renewed political rhetoric in Washington.