United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, described as "very unusual" the occurrence of gunfire in open waters, referencing a recent incident involving Cuba. He stressed that Washington intends to gather its own intelligence to ascertain "exactly what happened," refraining from drawing premature conclusions.
"We will acquire our own information on this matter. We will determine precisely what transpired... I will not engage in speculation," Rubio stated in response to reporters' inquiries.
Emphasizing the uncommon nature of the event, Rubio noted that, "frankly," such instances involving Cuba have not occurred "in a long time."
When asked about any direct communication or involvement with Cuban authorities, Rubio clarified that there had been none. "We have not communicated directly with Cuba about this at this time," he remarked, indicating that his government had not yet engaged in talks with Havana regarding the issue.
The U.S. diplomat acknowledged the possibility of various scenarios contributing to the event, but maintained that he would avoid public speculation until verified information was available.
In his concise statement, Rubio reiterated the extraordinary nature of the incident: "This is not something that happens every day... it's very unusual to witness gunfire," he affirmed, stressing that the U.S. Government will seek to establish the facts independently before commenting on accountability.
The vessel involved in Wednesday's armed confrontation in Cuban waters was part of a private flotilla organized to evacuate family members from the island, according to details shared by The New York Times.
This report indicated that the shooting involved a civilian boat registered in the United States, which was part of a flotilla aiming to extract relatives from Cuba. It was confirmed by a U.S. official that the boat was neither affiliated with the U.S. Navy nor the Coast Guard.
The incident, initially reported by Cuba's Ministry of the Interior, resulted in a preliminary toll of four deaths and several injuries following an exchange of gunfire with Border Guard Troops near Cayo Falcones, located in the Villa Clara province.
As of now, the identities of the victims have not been officially released.
Meanwhile, The Maritime Executive, a specialized outlet, provided technical details about the vessel identified by the registration number FL7726SH. According to U.S. records, the boat is a Pro-Line, manufactured in 1981, featuring hull number 00916.
The Pro-Line brand is associated with a U.S.-based producer of sport and fishing boats founded in Florida, recognized for their range of small to medium-sized vessels.
Insight into the Recent Open Sea Shooting Involving Cuba
What did Marco Rubio say about the open sea shooting?
Marco Rubio described the shooting as "very unusual" and affirmed that the U.S. will gather its own information to determine what exactly happened, avoiding speculation.
Was there any direct communication with Cuban authorities regarding the incident?
Rubio stated that there had been no direct communication with Cuban authorities about the incident at the time of his statement.
What details are known about the vessel involved in the shooting?
The vessel, part of a private flotilla, was identified as a Pro-Line manufactured in 1981, registered with the number FL7726SH. It was confirmed to be a civilian boat not affiliated with the U.S. Navy or Coast Guard.