In HAVANA Cuban authorities say their border patrol forces killed four-armed individuals and wounded six others after a Florida‑registered speedboat entered Cuban territorial waters and opened fire on a Cuban patrol vessel on Wednesday, February 25, 2026. The incident has intensified already strained ties between Havana and Washington and raised fresh questions about maritime security in the region.

Clash in Cuban Waters

According to a statement from Cuba’s Ministry of the Interior, a speedboat registered in Florida, United States, was detected about one nautical mile northeast of Cayo Falcones, off the country’s northern coast, when Cuban border guards moved to challenge the vessel. Cuban officials say the boat’s occupants fired first, injuring the commander of the Cuban patrol craft. Cuban forces then returned fire, killing four people on board and wounding six others all of which were reportedly on the speedboat.

Authorities described the confrontation as an effort to thwart an “armed infiltration” that posed a threat to national security. Cuban state media reported that the speedboat passengers were armed and wearing camouflage, carrying assault rifles, handguns, Molotov cocktails, telescopic sights and bulletproof vests equipment that officials said pointed to a premeditated attack rather than routine maritime traffic.

Identities and Allegations

Cuban officials claimed that the passengers aboard the speedboat were Cuban nationals living in the United States, and preliminary statements from some detainees suggested they intended to infiltrate Cuban territory “for terrorist purposes.” While names and details have been released for several suspects, including one of the deceased Michel Ortega Casanova, Cuban authorities say two of the individuals aboard were already wanted by Havana for prior involvement in violent activities.

In addition to the ten people aboard the vessel, Cuban security forces said they arrested another man on land, identified as Duniel Hernández Santos, who allegedly flew from the U.S. to facilitate the operation.

U.S. Reaction and Ongoing Investigations

Officials in the United States, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have denied any involvement by U.S. government personnel in the incident, emphasizing that Washington is gathering its own information. Rubio, speaking at a regional summit said the U.S. would conduct an independent investigation into the events and sought to verify whether any of those aboard the speedboat were U.S. citizens or legal residents.

At the state level, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has called for a coordinated probe with federal and state law enforcement partners. Meanwhile, members of Congress, including Representative Carlos A. Giménez have urged federal authorities to clarify the circumstances of the confrontation and determine exactly what transpired.

Geopolitical Context and Tensions

The rare shootout at sea comes at a sensitive moment in U.S.-Cuba relations, already marked by heightened tensions over economic sanctions, energy shortages on the island and disputes over security cooperation. Incidents involving maritime confrontations are not unheard of in the fraught history between the two nations, but fatalities of this scale have been uncommon in recent decades.

Cuban leaders have framed the clash as an act of defending national sovereignty and territorial integrity, while U.S. officials have questioned Havana’s account and pledged transparent fact‑finding. The evolving investigation and diplomatic responses are likely to shape discussions in both capitals about migration, security and broader bilateral relations.

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