The recent armed confrontation in Cuban territorial waters — in which a Florida-registered speedboat opened fire on border guards of the Caribbean island — is not an isolated incident, but rather the most recent chapter in a strategy of systematic violence that has targeted the largest of the Antilles for more than 60 years.

Since 1959, Cuban territory has been the target of illegal maritime operations promoted, organized, and financed from the United States, leaving, according to Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez, "a high toll in lives lost, injuries, and material damages."

Historical records document attacks such as the bazooka bombardment of the Patricio Lumumba sulfuric acid plant on the northern coast of Pinar del Río in 1963, and the seizure of Cuban fishing vessels and their crews in 1964 by units of the United States Navy.

One of the most tragic episodes occurred in 1971, when an attack on the coastal community of Boca de Samá, in the municipality of Banes, Holguín, left fatalities and seriously injured minors, among them sisters Nancy Pavón, 15, and Ángela Pavón, 13.

In the years that followed, maritime harassment against Cuba's fishing fleets intensified through a series of armed assaults in traditional fishing zones. In October 1972, speedboats equipped with heavy weaponry attacked the vessels Aguja and Plataforma 4 near Andros Island in the Bahamas. This pattern of aggression was repeated barely a year later against the Cayo Largo 34 and Cayo Largo 17, a violent operation that cost the life of fisherman Roberto Torna Mirabal. The escalation reached a critical point on April 6, 1976, in the area between Cayo Anguila and Cayo Sal, when a speedboat opened machine-gun fire on the fishing vessels Ferro 123 and Ferro 119, sinking both and leaving the crew of the Ferro 123 wounded and stranded at sea.

From the 1990s and well into the 21st century, the tactics of violent groups diversified toward the sabotage of tourist facilities and the infiltration of armed individuals aimed at fomenting internal unrest. The armed attack on the Hotel Meliá Varadero, carried out by a vessel linked to the terrorist organization Comandos L, and the repeated arrests of individuals traveling from Miami with weapons and explosives, reflect a persistent logistical network operating with impunity despite repeated warnings and formal complaints issued by the Cuban government.

The nature of these threats persists to the present day, as demonstrated by the participation in the most recent incursion of individuals included on the National List of persons sought for terrorism under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1373.

On Wednesday, February 25, it was confirmed that Cuba's Border Guard Troops intercepted a speedboat bearing Florida registration number FL7726SH navigating in Cuban territorial waters. The vessel was approaching one nautical mile to the northeast of the El Pino channel, near Cayo Falcones, in the municipality of Corralillo, Villa Clara province. When border guards attempted to identify the craft, those on board opened fire, triggering a confrontation. As a result, one Cuban officer was wounded, while four of the aggressors were killed and six others were injured. Those wounded were provided medical attention following their capture. Subsequent investigations confirmed that all ten crew members aboard the vessel were participating in a terrorist operation.

Upon inspection of the intercepted speedboat, authorities discovered an arsenal that included assault rifles, handguns, and improvised explosive devices in the form of Molotov cocktails. In addition to the weaponry, those involved were equipped with telescopic sights and camouflage clothing.

In response, the Cuban state reaffirmed its determination to defend national sovereignty and stability against any external threat. Through official channels, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel emphasized that the island does not engage in aggression or threats against other nations, but made clear that Cuba will respond firmly to any terrorist or mercenary acts seeking to undermine its territorial integrity.