U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced that the United States government will conduct an independent verification of the armed confrontation that occurred in Cuban waters on Wednesday, resulting in four fatalities aboard a Florida-registered vessel.
Speaking to Telemundo on Wednesday, Rubio stated, "We will independently verify this to understand exactly what happened," referring to the incident near the Villa Clara province.
The head of U.S. diplomacy highlighted that Cuban authorities have been in communication with the U.S. Coast Guard, yet he cautioned that "initial reports are incomplete."
Rubio further mentioned that Washington will use the established official channels between the two nations, including the embassy in Havana, to precisely determine the events that transpired.
He indicated that U.S. authorities are working to verify the information provided by the Cuban government regarding the exchange of gunfire, which, according to Cuba's Ministry of the Interior, occurred after the Florida-registered boat entered territorial waters and fired upon a Border Guard Troops unit.
During the same appearance, the Secretary of State was asked about oil sales to Cuba.
Rubio asserted that the private sector has always had the legal capability to sell oil to the island and argued that the current crisis stems from the Cuban regime "following an economic model that does not exist or work anywhere in the world."
The U.S. authorities are continuing to review the incident while awaiting more details on the victims' identities and the exact circumstances of the confrontation.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance mentioned on Wednesday that the American government is monitoring a situation in Cuba, but emphasized that they lack sufficient details at this time.
"Certainly, it is a situation we are monitoring; hopefully, it’s not as severe as we fear. But I can't say more because I simply don't know more," he stated when asked about the incident.
Key Insights into the Cuban Waters Incident
What steps is the U.S. taking to investigate the incident in Cuban waters?
The U.S. is conducting an independent verification of the events, using official channels, including the embassy in Havana, to determine precisely what happened.
What was the Cuban government's report on the incident?
According to Cuba's Ministry of the Interior, the incident involved gunfire after a Florida-registered boat entered their territorial waters and fired at a Border Guard unit.
How did Marco Rubio describe the current economic crisis in Cuba?
Rubio attributed the crisis to the Cuban regime's adherence to an economic model that he claims is non-existent and ineffective globally.