Cuba Says Armed Group on U.S.-Registered Speedboat Planned ‘Terrorist Infiltration’

Cuba says it thwarted what it described as an armed infiltration attempt after border guards intercepted a U.S.-registered speedboat off the island’s northern coast, killing four people and injuring six others.

In a statement, Cuba’s Interior Ministry said the vessel entered Cuban territorial waters and was about one nautical mile off Cayo Falcones when it was stopped on Wednesday. Authorities allege the group aboard the Florida-registered boat opened fire first, sparking a gun battle in which a Cuban officer was wounded.

Cuban officials claim the 10 people on board were Cuban nationals residing in the United States and were planning “an infiltration with terrorist aims.” Weapons recovered from the boat allegedly included handguns, assault rifles, improvised explosive devices and other tactical gear.

An additional suspect has reportedly been detained and confessed, according to Cuban authorities.

President Miguel Díaz-Canel said Cuba would defend itself “with determination and firmness against any terrorist and mercenary aggression against its sovereignty and national stability.”

From St. Kitts and Nevis, where he was attending meetings with Caribbean leaders, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the incident as “highly unusual” and said Washington would independently verify the facts rather than rely solely on Cuban government accounts.

Rubio noted that the vessel was not carrying U.S. government personnel. He added that the United States would investigate what those aboard were doing in Cuban waters.

Rubio, whose parents emigrated from Cuba, has been a vocal critic of Havana’s Communist government. On Wednesday, he reiterated that “Cuba’s status quo is unacceptable” and called for “dramatic reforms” that would open space for economic and political freedoms.

The shooting comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Havana. Just weeks ago, U.S. forces captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, a key ally of Cuba, and blocked oil shipments from Venezuela to the island, worsening Cuba’s already severe fuel shortages.

U.S. President Donald Trump has warned Cuba to “make a deal” or face consequences, while tightening pressure on the island’s leadership. However, on Wednesday the U.S. Treasury Department said it would ease certain small private-sector transactions, including some oil sales, aimed at supporting the Cuban people for commercial and humanitarian purposes.

Cuba’s Interior Ministry framed the incident within this broader context, stating that “in the face of current challenges, Cuba reaffirms its determination to protect its territorial waters” and defend its sovereignty.