Cuba says it coordinated with US after foiling terror boat infiltration
2026-02-26 - 23:32
Cuban authorities have maintained contact with US officials following the interception of a Florida-registered boat carrying armed individuals allegedly attempting to enter Cuba for terrorist purposes, a senior diplomat announced Thursday. Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio told reporters in Havana that communication with US counterparts, including the State Department and Coast Guard, began immediately after the vessel was detected. Incident Details The boat was intercepted carrying 10 armed individuals who opened fire on Cuban border guards, resulting in four fatalities and six injuries among the alleged attackers. Authorities seized weapons including assault rifles, pistols, Molotov cocktails, night-vision devices, ammunition, and communications equipment. Fernandez de Cossio described the incident as a "foiled armed infiltration" and emphasized that Cuba has previously shared intelligence with the US on suspected perpetrators under UN Security Council Resolution 1373, reaffirming Havana's "absolute and categorical commitment against all acts, methods, and practices of terrorism." US Response US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed Washington is independently investigating the incident, stressing that American authorities would verify the details provided by Havana on their own. The Cuban diplomat noted that Washington has shown willingness to cooperate in the ongoing investigation, with both sides seeking to exchange information about the attempted infiltration originating from US territory. Cooperation Amid Tensions The coordinated response represents a rare instance of US-Cuba security cooperation despite decades of hostility and recent intensification of US pressure, including fuel blockades and President Trump's pledge to see the island "fall." Fernandez de Cossio emphasized that Cuba's commitment to counterterrorism remains absolute, even as the incident adds another layer of complexity to the fraught bilateral relationship.