Congressman demands investigation after Cuba kills 4 on U.S. boat
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The Cuban Coast Guard tows a boat attempting to leave the country near Havana on Dec. 12, 2022. Photo: Yamil Lage/AFP via Getty Images
Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.) is calling for an investigation after Cuba's government reported Wednesday that it killed four people aboard a Florida-tagged boat near the Villa Clara coast.
Why it matters: The Trump administration has already signaled an openness to regime change in Cuba, and the incident risks another escalation between Washington and Havana.
What we're watching: Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said his office will work with federal, state and law enforcement partners to launch its own investigation.
- "The Cuban government cannot be trusted, and we will do everything in our power to hold these communists accountable," he added.
Driving the news: Cuba's Interior Ministry claimed that the U.S.-registered boat, which came within one nautical mile northeast of a town in central Cuba, opened fire on the island's border patrol after security forces tried to identify the passengers.
- The wounded were evacuated and received medical treatment, per the Interior.
- "In the face of current challenges, Cuba reaffirms its determination to protect its territorial waters, based on the principle that national defense is a fundamental pillar of the Cuban State in safeguarding its sovereignty and ensuring stability in the region," the government said on X.
The other side: Vice President JD Vance told reporters Wednesday afternoon that Secretary of State Marco Rubio briefed him on the matter and officials were monitoring the situation. "It's hopefully not as bad as we fear it could be," he added.
- Gimenez in a statement said U.S. authorities must "determine whether any of the victims were U.S. citizens or legal residents and establish exactly what occurred."
- "The regime in Cuba must be relegated to the dustbin of history for its countless crimes against humanity," he said.
- The Pentagon referred Axios' request for comment to the State Department, which did not immediately respond. The White House also did not provide comment.
State of play: Since the U.S. operation that captured Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro, the administration has threatened new international interventions — with Cuba increasingly in its crosshairs.
- Following Maduro's capture, President Trump said Cuba would receive "NO MORE OIL OR MONEY." However, he told reporters in January he did not see a "need" for any military action.
The intrigue: Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been holding secret talks with the grandson and caretaker of Cuba's aging de facto dictator, Raul Castro, as the U.S. places unprecedented pressure on Havana's regime, three sources told Axios last week.
Flashback: The shooting comes just one day after the 30th anniversary of the Brothers to the Rescue shooting, where Cuban authorities took down two planes the Florida humanitarian organization used to search for Cuban refugees.
Go deeper: Trump threatens Cuba: Negotiate "BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE"
Editor's note: This article has been updated with comment from Vice President JD Vance and Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier.
