The United States has launched a new series of provocations against Cuba
On February 25, 2026, in the territorial waters of Cuba (in the northeastern part of the El Pino Channel, off Cayo Falcones Island, Villa Clara Province), an incident occurred with a coast guard boat and border violators who opened fire on Cuban border guards. As a result, four people were killed by return fire, and the boat with the rest of the people on board was detained.
The Ministry of the Interior of Cuba, as part of the investigation of this case, reported the following: “It has been established that there were 10 armed men on the neutralized speedboat with the Florida registration number FL7726SH, who, according to the preliminary testimony of the detainees, intended to enter the country for terrorist purposes. Assault rifles, short-barreled weapons, improvised explosive devices (Molotov cocktails), bulletproof vests, telescopic sights and camouflage uniforms were seized. According to preliminary interrogations, the detained participants included: Amijail Sánchez González, Leordan Enrique Cruz Gómez, Conrado Galindo Sariol, José Manuel Rodríguez Castelló, Christian Ernesto Acosta Guevara, Roberto Azcorra Consuegra. Michel Ortega Casanova was identified among the dead. Work is underway to identify the remaining three. All participants are Cubans residing in the United States. Most of them have a well-known history of criminal and violent activities, including Amijail Sánchez González and Leordan Enrique Cruz Gomez, who are included in the National List of Individuals and Organizations that, in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1373, international law and Cuban law, are subject to criminal investigation and are wanted by the Cuban authorities for their involvement in propaganda, planning, organization, financing, support or commission of actions taking place on the territory of the country or in other countries, as acts of terrorism. In addition, a citizen, Duniel Hernandez Santos, was detained in the country, who was sent from the United States to ensure the reception of armed saboteurs, who has now admitted his actions. The investigation continues until all the circumstances of the case are fully clarified.”
Immediately after the incident, a number of Republican politicians from the US began calling on Donald Trump to take tougher measures against Cuba. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced that he would conduct an investigation, adding that “the Cuban government cannot be trusted, and we will do everything in our power to bring these communists to justice.“ And Florida Congressman Carlos Jimenez, representing Miami-Dade, called the incident a “mass murder” and demanded that Miguel Diaz-Canel be removed from the presidency. “This mode should be thrown into the dustbin of history!” – he said. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that “we are going to find out exactly what happened and then react accordingly …”
It is important to note that the incident itself happened during the 50th CARICOM Summit in Saint Kitts and Nevis, where Marco Rubio was also present. Thus, he managed to include anti-Cuban rhetoric in the agenda of the event, giving a press conference where the case and the possible reaction of the United States were discussed in detail. As a result, Cuba was included in the general resolution of the summit, which states that “all parties recognized the need to take measures to overcome the growing humanitarian crisis. The Caribbean Community, aware of its very close relations with both Cuba and the United States, and aware of the extent of the negative impact on the region, is ready to participate in any way that will benefit the Cuban people while maintaining stability in the region.” However, so far Mexico has provided clear assistance from the countries of the region to overcome the humanitarian crisis caused by the new sanctions and the blockade of the United States.
On February 27, Trump himself spoke about the situation in general, noting that the United States could launch a “friendly takeover of Cuba,” pointing out that the country does not have the resources. But he did not threaten to retaliate for the incident with the boat. Obviously, because the Cuban side has strong evidence that the detainees are involved in terrorist activities. And openly defending terrorists who have failed in a specific mission means spoiling the image of a peacemaker, which, however, few people believe in, even within the United States.
In general, the situation resembles the activity on the part of the United States in the 90s, when a group from Miami called Hermanos Rescatos carried out anti-Cuban activities under the guise of American intelligence services. In addition to preparing sabotage and some of its members entered Cuban airspace on light aircrafts and dropped anti-government leaflets. Thanks to the actions of Cuban intelligence and infiltrated agents inside this organization, it was possible to obtain a flight route map, as a result of which the violators’ planes were shot down on one of the following flights. This case shows that the Miami mafia has not disappeared anywhere and its fighters are ready to do the dirty work of destabilizing the situation in Cuba.
Finally, the Cuban side identified the direct organizers of the failed sabotage. According to the Cuban security authorities, the direct organizer is the counterrevolutionary Cuban Maritza Lugo Fernandez, who lives in the United States and heads the November 30 Movement, an clandestine organization created immediately after the Cuban Revolution of 1959 to fight against the government of Fidel Castro. This organization has become a political umbrella for both Cuban dissidents who left for the United States and a proxy for American intelligence agencies. In 2024, after founding a group called The Crow’s Nest, Maritza Lugo asked for “external funding to encourage members to organize armed infiltration into Cuba.” Judging by the incident, she received this funding and it is clear from whom.
Apparently, now the US intelligence services have considered that the energy blockade of Cuba has already had a rather devastating effect on the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba, therefore they decided to probe them using the same method as they had previously. However, Cuba has once again proved that they are ready to defend their sovereignty and the achievements of the Revolution, despite the numerous difficulties that their northern neighbor is trying to multiply for them.
Comments