Cuba's president, Miguel Diaz-Canel, said on Thursday that the country will protect its sovereignty and stability in the face of what he called "terrorist and mercenary aggression that seeks to undermine its sovereignty and national stability." The statement, posted on X, followed a lethal maritime incident earlier in the week.
Havana reported that on Wednesday four exiles were killed and six others wounded after a group sailed into Cuban waters aboard a Florida-registered speedboat and opened fire on a Cuban patrol. Cuban authorities said the group consisted of anti-government Cubans, and that some members had previously been wanted for plotting attacks.
In his message on social media, Diaz-Canel stressed Cuba's defensive posture. "Cuba does not attack nor threaten," he wrote. "We have stated this on repeated occasions and reaffirm it today: Cuba will defend itself with determination and firmness."
The episode occurred amid heightened tensions with the United States. According to the Cuban government, the United States has blocked oil shipments to the island as part of measures intended to pressure the Communist-run government. Those restrictions have coincided with persistent fuel shortages that officials say are affecting transportation services and worsening power cuts on the Caribbean's largest island.
Cuban officials emphasize that the nation's electricity grid depends on imported oil, and the shortfalls in fuel supply have had direct consequences for both mobility and the reliability of electricity. The United Nations has warned that if Cuba's energy needs are not addressed, the situation could heighten into a humanitarian crisis.
This developing domestic security incident and the concurrent energy constraints underscore converging pressures on Cuba's infrastructure and public services. Authorities have framed the maritime clash as an attack by anti-government actors and have said they will respond decisively to protect national stability.