MOSCOW – The Kremlin accused Washington of deliberately provoking conflict after a deadly maritime confrontation near Cuba left four people dead on Wednesday, according to Russia’s state media outlet TASS.
The fatal encounter occurred when a speedboat registered in Florida entered Cuban territorial waters and engaged in gunfire with Cuban patrol vessels. Cuban military forces responded by opening fire, killing four Cuban exiles aboard the vessel and injuring six others during the Wednesday incident.
Maria Zakharova, who serves as Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, characterized the maritime clash as intentional American aggression designed to increase regional tensions.
“This is an aggressive provocation by the United States aimed at escalating the situation and detonating a conflict,” Zakharova stated, as reported by the Russian news agency.
The deadly confrontation comes during a period of increased strain between Washington and Havana, adding another layer of complexity to already tense U.S.-Cuba relations.
