Florida Straits Ambush Fuels US-Cuba Tensions, Raising Caribbean Market Risk

The incident occurred in Cuban territorial waters near Falcones Cay, Villa Clara province. According to Cuba's interior ministry, a passenger on the speedboat initiated gunfire, wounding the Cuban vessel's commander, which led Cuban forces to return fire.

Six other individuals on the speedboat were wounded and are in custody. The ministry stated the passengers were Cuban residents of the US, armed with assault rifles, handguns, and Molotov cocktails, and intended "terrorist purposes." US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the vessel was not on a US government operation and that the US embassy in Havana is investigating.

The event occurs amidst heightened US-Cuba tensions, following recent US actions against Venezuela and Cuba's economy. Russia, an ally of Cuba, characterized the incident as an "aggressive provocation by the United States."