Four Floridians Killed by Cuban Military Spark Republican Demand for Cuban Regime Overthrow
On Thursday, following an incident in which Cuban military forces opened fire and killed four men from Florida, Republican politicians in the Sunshine State called for regime change in Cuba.
Republican Representative Carlos Gimenez stated that the Cuban regime must be “relegated to the dustbin of history for its countless crimes against humanity.” In a news release issued Thursday, Gimenez demanded an immediate investigation into what he described as a “massacre,” urging U.S. authorities to determine whether any victims were U.S. citizens or legal residents and to establish exactly what occurred.
Gimenez, who has previously urged the Trump administration to restrict remittances from Americans to Cuba, echoed calls for accountability. Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., a candidate seeking the GOP nomination for governor, supported Gimenez’s stance, while Senator Rick Scott demanded that the Cuban government be held accountable.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio vowed that the Trump administration would investigate the shooting independently, stating, “We’re gonna find out.” Rubio emphasized that the United States would not accept Cuba’s word at face value, adding, “I’m very, very confident that we will know the full story of what happened here.”
According to Cuba’s Interior Ministry, a vessel approached within 1 nautical mile northeast of a coastal town in central Cuba and opened fire on border officers when security forces attempted to identify those onboard. The ministry reported that the boat was carrying 10 armed Cubans who reside in the United States and were attempting an “infiltration” for “terrorist purposes.”
Cuban officials stated that the wounded were evacuated for medical treatment and defended their actions. President Miguel Diaz-Canel labeled the incident an “infiltration,” declaring, “Cuba will defend itself with determination and firmness against any terrorist and mercenary aggression against its sovereignty and national stability.”
Cuban authorities said their forces responded after being fired upon by a Florida-registered speedboat near Cuba’s north coast. The survivors were detained and accused of intending to carry out an infiltration for terrorist purposes, with the ministry reporting that they had been armed with rifles, handguns, Molotov cocktails, and other military-style gear.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier ordered an investigation into the killings. Additionally, Miami-Dade County tax collector Daniel Fernandez revealed that his office sent compliance notes to 4,000 businesses it discovered were doing business with Cuba’s “socialist and communist dictatorship” following a six-month investigation. In Florida, businesses can have their licenses revoked if they are found to be engaging in such transactions.
Mexico and Canada also announced aid for Cuba, which has been severely impacted by U.S. actions against Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro and the seizure of Venezuela’s oil exports. Cuba had previously relied on Venezuela for about half its fuel needs.
