grandmaOn Wednesday, the official newspaper of the Cuban Communist Party showcased a speech by President Miguel Díaz-Canel, asserting that Cuba would “fight and resist” against the United States, especially following reports of Cuban troops in a gunfight with a speedboat in Florida.
That same evening, Cuba’s Foreign Ministry reported that its coast guard had opened fire on a U.S.-registered speedboat, resulting in four deaths and the capture of at least six individuals. The Cuban National Outlet also identified the suspects, labeling them “terrorists” for allegedly attempting to attack the government.
Details surrounding this incident are still unclear, and no additional information has been provided by officials from either the U.S. or Cuba. Secretary of State Marco Rubio conveyed Wednesday that the Trump administration is looking into the facts about the alleged altercation. He was in a meeting with Caribbean leaders in Saint Kitts and Nevis when the news broke.
“We expect to know much more about this situation soon,” Rubio informed reporters in St. Kitts and Nevis. “Most of the reported information is derived from the Cuban side, and we will independently verify that.”
Rubio added, “We don’t know the ownership of the boat, but that’s our primary concern right now. If any of the individuals are U.S. citizens or residents, we certainly want access to them.” He emphasized the importance of caution, stating there’s too much information currently based on what Cuba has presented, and they will verify these claims independently before drawing any conclusions.
Simultaneously, grandma’s cover published a transcription of a speech Díaz-Canel delivered earlier this week to commemorate the anniversary of the beginning of the Cuban War of Independence on February 24, 1895. This occasion holds historical significance that predates the rise of communism in Cuba, which the Castro regime often uses to glorify Fidel Castro’s rise to power in 1959. Interestingly, the Castro regime does not celebrate May 20, the actual founding of the Republic of Cuba. They also celebrated the 50th anniversary of what they term “local organs of people’s power” on the same day.
In his speech, Díaz-Canel proclaimed, “We will fight, we will struggle, we will resist, we will transform, and in the face of all adversity and imperial threats, we will grow and prevail.”
The reported clash with the U.S.-registered speedboat surfaced during increasingly strained relations between Cuba and the U.S., particularly after a January 3 U.S. operation in Caracas that led to the arrest of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro. Maduro has been a crucial supporter and ideological figure for the Cuban government.pupil The Cuban regime appears to be struggling to cope with the loss of Venezuelan oil, their lifeline for the past two decades, and has not yet found an alternative.
In late January, President Trump issued an executive order that addressed the national security risks posed by the Castro regime, which has been labeled a state sponsor of terrorism over its 67 years in power. This order includes plans to impose tariffs on countries providing oil to Cuba.
“Cuba will not initiate or threaten aggression. We’ve firmly articulated this before, and we reiterate it today. Cuba will robustly defend its sovereignty and national stability against any aggressive actions from terrorists or mercenaries,” Díaz-Canel posted on social media Thursday.
The Cuban government’s report of the alleged encounter occurred just hours after the Cuban diaspora and rebels commemorated the 30th anniversary of the killing of four Americans by the Castro regime in 1996. The victims—Carlos Costa, Armando Alejandre, Mario de la Peña, and Pablo Morales—were members of Brothers to the Rescue, who performed humanitarian flights to assist Cubans at sea trying to escape. On February 24, 1996, the Cuban government shot down a rescue plane in international waters, resulting in their deaths.
Last week, Orlando Gutierrez-Boronat, a contributor for Breitbart News and coordinator of the Cuban Resistance Congress (ARC), reiterated calls from the Cuban community for U.S. authorities to prosecute Raúl Castro for his role in the 1996 killings. ARC held a vigil on February 24 to remember the four Americans and demand justice against Mr. Castro.
Christian K. Caruso is a Venezuelan writer chronicling life under socialism. You can follow him on Twitter here.
