The Cuban leader, Miguel Díaz-Canel, announced on Friday that the regime is anticipating a potential visit from the United States' Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to assist in probing the February 25th incident involving a speedboat from the U.S., which resulted in the deaths of five individuals.
During a televised address, Díaz-Canel described the event as "an armed infiltration with terrorist intentions, financed and orchestrated from U.S. soil."
He elaborated that Havana has already communicated the incident details to Washington, and in response, the U.S. has expressed, through diplomatic and consular channels, their interest in being involved in clarifying the circumstances of the event.
"Information was promptly shared with the U.S. counterpart, which has conveyed, via diplomatic and consular routes, their intention to jointly participate in clarifying the facts. We are awaiting a potential FBI visit to further advance this investigation," he stated.
Díaz-Canel asserted that the ten crew members of the boat entered Cuban territorial waters illegally and were "heavily armed," contradicting an initial U.S. source that suggested a possible family rescue mission on the island.
"This was an attempted aggression," Díaz-Canel declared. "U.S. authorities have been informed and have expressed their willingness to participate in clarifying the events."
Legal Proceedings for Survivors
The Cuban leader also revealed that legal proceedings have been initiated against the survivors of the incident, all of whom were injured during the clash with the Cuban border guard troops.
"The injured have received full medical attention, and the detainees were allowed to speak with their families. Additionally, the families of the deceased participated in identifying the bodies," he affirmed.
According to Díaz-Canel, during the investigation, the detainees admitted their involvement and claimed they fired first at a Cuban coast guard vessel.
The Ministry of the Interior reported that the speedboat, carrying ten people—Cubans residing in the United States—and a large cache of weapons, was intercepted. Authorities assert that shots were fired from the boat at the Cuban patrol, which responded to the attack.
Four of the boat's crew died at the scene of the incident, and six others were injured, along with a Cuban officer. Subsequently, authorities reported that one of the injured individuals passed away.
The Office of the Attorney General of the Republic confirmed that the detainees are facing charges for alleged acts of terrorism, with penalties ranging from 10 years in prison to life imprisonment or the death penalty.
Dialogue with Washington
Simultaneously, Díaz-Canel acknowledged that Cuban officials have engaged in discussions with U.S. government representatives to address bilateral tensions and explore potential areas of cooperation.
The president assured that these exchanges have been conducted at the highest level, explicitly mentioning General Raúl Castro as one of the leaders overseeing the process.
This public acknowledgment of these contacts represents a notable shift from the official stance held in recent weeks. On January 12th, Díaz-Canel himself denied the existence of formal negotiations, limiting them to technical contacts on migration issues.
In February, Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío also stated that the dialogue had not commenced, while the regime again denied negotiations on March 10th.
The Cuban leader explained that the discussions aim to identify the most serious bilateral issues, find possible solutions, gauge the willingness of both parties, and explore areas of cooperation related to regional security.
FAQs on the U.S.-Cuba Boat Incident
What triggered the investigation by the FBI in Cuba?
The investigation was prompted by an incident involving a speedboat from the U.S. entering Cuban waters, leading to the deaths of five people. The Cuban government claims it was an armed infiltration with terrorist intentions.
What charges are the survivors of the incident facing?
The survivors are facing charges related to terrorism, with potential penalties ranging from 10 years in prison to life imprisonment or the death penalty, according to the Cuban authorities.
How is Cuba collaborating with the United States on this issue?
Cuba has communicated the incident to the U.S. and is expecting an FBI visit to collaborate on the investigation. There are also dialogues at high levels to address bilateral tensions and explore cooperation.