By Trendsetter Tribune 
ST. KITTS — Speaking from a regional summit in the Caribbean on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio characterized the deadly shootout between Cuban border guards and a Florida-registered speedboat as “highly unusual” and a type of maritime violence not seen in the region “in a very long time.”
The incident, which resulted in the deaths of four individuals and the wounding of six others, has sparked a swift diplomatic and legal reaction from Washington and Florida officials.
Rubio: “We Won’t Solely Rely on Cuba’s Version”
Secretary Rubio, attending a CARICOM meeting in St. Kitts and Nevis, confirmed that the U.S. Coast Guard was in “constant contact” with Cuban counterparts but emphasized that the United States would conduct its own forensic and intelligence investigation.
- Independent Verification: “Suffice it to say, it is highly unusual to see shootouts in open sea like that. It’s not something that happens every day,” Rubio told reporters. “We are not going to base our conclusions on what they’ve told us.”
- U.S. Embassy Action: Rubio confirmed that the U.S. Embassy in Havana is working to gain access to the survivors to determine if they are U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
- Denial of Official Involvement: The Secretary of State explicitly denied that the vessel was part of any official U.S. government operation.
The Developing Incident at Cayo Falcones
While Cuba’s Interior Ministry claims the speedboat fired first, wounding a Cuban commander, U.S. officials and Florida representatives have expressed deep skepticism.
| Location | Cayo Falcones, Villa Clara Province (1 mile offshore) |
| Vessel Info | Speedboat with Florida registration FL7726SH |
| U.S. Casualties | 4 Dead, 6 Wounded (Nationalities currently being verified) |
| Cuban Casualties | 1 Officer Injured |
| Lead U.S. Agencies | State Department, DHS, U.S. Coast Guard |
Florida’s Legal Escalation
Back in Tallahassee, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced late Wednesday that he has directed the Office of Statewide Prosecution to launch its own criminal investigation into the “murder” of those on board.
“The Cuban government cannot be trusted, and we will do everything in our power to hold these communists accountable.” — AG James Uthmeier, Feb 25, 2026
Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL), a frequent critic of the Havana government, was even more direct, labeling the incident an “assassination” and noting the “eerie timing” of the event—occurring almost exactly 30 years to the day after the Cuban military shot down two Brothers to the Rescue planes in 1996.
White House “Monitoring” the Situation
Vice President JD Vance confirmed he had been briefed by Rubio on Wednesday afternoon. “Hopefully it’s not as bad as we fear it could be,” Vance said, noting that the White House is monitoring the situation closely but awaiting further confirmation from U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) and the Coast Guard.
The shooting comes at a time of extreme tension following the Trump administration’s recent “oil siege” on Cuba and the January capture of Nicolás Maduro, which left the island nation without its primary regional benefactor.