All articles tagged with #us cuba relations
Cuban authorities say a Florida group of 10 attacked a Cuban vessel, triggering a firefight off Cuba’s northern coast as backchannel talks between Rubio’s team and Raúl Castro’s grandson about easing sanctions were underway; the White House offered little public comment, fueling scrutiny of Havana’s account and highlighting tensions in U.S.-Cuba diplomacy.
Cuba’s Interior Ministry says a Florida-flagged speedboat opened fire on border guards off the island’s north coast, killing four attackers; officials say the intruders arrived from the U.S. in two boats but one failed, with supplies transferred to the surviving craft. Authorities displayed heavy weapons and ammunition found on board and said the attackers were trained and financed. A border-guard boat was struck and a commander injured; six Cuban-origin suspects could face terrorism charges. The U.S. has denied it was a government operation.
Michel Ortega Casanova, one of 10 people on a Florida-registered speedboat that clashed with Cuban forces in an attempted infiltration of Cuba, was described by his brother as driven by an obsessive and 'diabolical' push to free Cuba; four people were killed and six injured. U.S. and Cuban authorities are investigating passenger identities and whether any were U.S. citizens or residents, amid broader security and terrorism-related concerns around the incident.
Former president Donald Trump suggested the U.S. could carry out a 'friendly takeover' of Cuba as tensions with Havana rise, claiming Cuba is 'in big trouble' and noting talks with Cuban officials; the remarks come amid broader regional strain involving Venezuela, sanctions, and exile communities in the U.S., and have drawn skepticism from observers about renewed U.S. influence over the island.
At CARICOM, Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness urged a clear, humane approach to Cuba, noting the region’s reliance on Cuban doctors and teachers while calling for democracy and humanitarian relief; a Miami Republican congressman condemned his stance, underscoring the Caribbean’s delicate balancing act as leaders seek stability without abandoning democratic principles.
US officials say at least one American citizen was killed and another injured when Cuban border guards intercepted a Florida-registered speedboat off Cuba; four people on the boat were killed and six were wounded in the firefight. Cuba claims the passengers, Cuban nationals in the US, planned an armed infiltration and opened fire first, while the boat owner says it was stolen. An 11th person was reportedly arrested; the US says no American government personnel were involved, and the incident adds to ongoing US-Cuba tensions.
Cuban authorities say four people on a Florida-registered speedboat were killed after the vessel entered Cuban waters near Villa Clara; six others were wounded and survivors were taken into custody. The Interior Ministry says those on board were Cuban residents of the US and had planned an infiltration for terrorist purposes, with an arrest linked to the operation. The US is investigating, as the incident amplifies existing Cuba–US tensions amid sanctions and regional strain.
A Florida-registered speedboat carrying 10 Cuban-Americans entered Cuban waters and exchanged fire with a Cuban border patrol, leaving four dead and six wounded; Cuban authorities say the group planned a terrorist attack and possessed weapons, with the wounded and a seventh suspect later arrested on the island. U.S. agencies are reviewing the incident as tensions with Cuba rise. The brother of one victim described his sibling as driven by an obsessive, diabolical bid to free Cuba, highlighting the personal toll behind the incident.
Cuba says its coastguard shot at a US-registered speedboat near Cayo Falcones, killing four and injuring six from a 10-person group; Cuba claims the passengers were armed Cubans in the US plotting infiltration and terrorism, with several detainees held. The United States is conducting its own investigation and says it is not a US-government operation, as tensions with Cuba mount amid fuel shortages and shifting oil-policy dynamics.
Cuban soldiers say four people were killed and six wounded aboard a Florida-registered speedboat that entered Cuban waters and opened fire first; one Cuban officer was injured. U.S. officials, including Rubio, are gathering information to determine if any victims were American citizens or permanent residents, signaling rising tensions as U.S. policy shifts unfold toward Cuba.
Cuban border troops killed four people and wounded six during a confrontation with a Florida-registered speedboat in Cuban territorial waters, which Cuban authorities labeled an attempted terrorist attack. They said the ten people involved were Cuban nationals living in the United States planning infiltration, and they seized weapons and explosives, signaling heightened security tensions with Washington amid ongoing diplomatic exchanges.
Cuban border patrol fired on a Florida-registered speedboat offshore Cayo Falcones, Villa Clara, killing four people after the vessel allegedly fired first; six crew members were injured and the identities of those aboard remain unknown as investigators review the incident amid ongoing U.S.-Cuba tensions.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow views the U.S. oil blockade of Cuba as unacceptable during talks with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, signaling Kremlin support as Havana endures a worsening fuel shortage amid sanctions and growing humanitarian concerns, with Washington weighing tariffs on suppliers and Cuba taking measures to protect essential services.
Cuba’s crumbling energy system is being exacerbated by oil shortages after U.S. pressure and Venezuela disruptions, leaving Santa Cruz del Norte with near-daily blackouts. Residents rely on coal, firewood, and improvised lighting while incomes and basic goods shrink; the government offers little detail on fuel shipments, even as humanitarian aid from Mexico and talks with allies surface amid rising hardship.
Cuba’s president Miguel Díaz-Canel said Havana is willing to talk with the United States on any topic but only without pressure or preconditions, signaling a potential shift after months of Trump-era threats. He criticized US media campaigns and said the island faces ongoing economic and energy hardships under the blockade, with support messages from China and Russia and rumors of talks in Mexico. The government plans measures to cope with the strain, highlighting the difficulty for both the state and Cuban people.