The situation in Cuba is severely fuel-deficient and becoming tense after a high-speed boat shooting registered in the US off the coast of this country, according to the Kremlin.
We see the situation around Cuba is escalating" - Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
The most important thing is the humanitarian factor. The humanitarian issues of Cuban citizens must be resolved, and no one should create obstacles" - Russian state news agency RIA Novosti quoted Mr. Peskov as saying.
Meanwhile, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel clarified this information after the incident of Cuban authorities shooting down a US speedboat.
In a post on social network X, Mr. Diaz-Canel emphasized "Cuba does not attack or threaten anyone; we have repeatedly affirmed this. However, we affirm that Cuba will resolutely and firmly defend itself against all acts of terrorist infiltration or mercenaries aimed at weakening the country's sovereignty and stability".
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla also expressed a similar view. He also announced that "a thorough investigation into the speedboat incident is underway to clarify the truth". The Minister emphasized that "protecting Cuba's coast, national territory and security is the inviolable responsibility of the government".
The statements of the Russian side and Cuban leaders were made immediately after the Cuban Ministry of Interior announced that border guards had shot dead 4 people and injured 6 others on a speedboat registered in Florida, USA when the speedboat entered Cuban territorial waters.
Ten passengers on the speedboat are believed to have opened fire on a Cuban patrol team off the north coast of the island.
All are Cuban citizens residing in the US, all have weapons and some have criminal records, the Cuban Ministry of Interior informed. Assault rifles, handguns, homemade explosive devices and disguised military uniforms are among the items seized on the speedboat.
Cuba is currently facing a crisis due to the US oil embargo. The administration of President Donald Trump has cut off Venezuelan oil supplies to Cuba since the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on January 3.
US President Donald Trump then said that Cuba posed an "abnormal and special threat" and warned that it would impose tariffs on any country that supplies oil to Cuba.
The United Nations has warned of the possibility of a humanitarian "collapse" in Cuba as the country's oil supply runs out. Mexico has sent a new shipment of humanitarian aid to Cuba this week. According to the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ships left the port of Veracruz on February 24 with 1,200 tons of food aid. Aid is expected to arrive in Cuba on February 28.
