Havana, Feb 27 - Cuba expressed its willingness to collaborate with the United States in clarifying the events following the thwarting of an armed incursion in Villa Clara, and established contact to exchange information about those involved, it was revealed today.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Carlos Fernández de Cossío confirmed the activation of diplomatic channels with the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Coast Guard, which expressed their willingness to cooperate in clarifying the events that occurred in the El Pino channel, Corralillo municipality.
Authorities identified the ten participants: Cristian Ernesto Acosta Guevara, Conrado Galindo Serrior, José Manuel Rodríguez Castelló, Leordán Cruz Gómez, Amijail Sánchez González, Roberto Álvarez Ávila, Pavel Alling Peña, Michael Ortega Casanova, Ledián Padrón Guevara, and Héctor Duani Cruz Correa.
It was specified that Rolando Roberto Ascorra Consuegra was not part of the group, despite his violent background against the island.
During the operation, the Border Troops intercepted the Florida-registered boat after coming under fire.
Assault rifles and sniper rifles, pistols, Molotov cocktails, night vision equipment, bulletproof vests, bayonets, camouflage clothing, ammunition, and insignia of counterrevolutionary organizations were seized.
Fernández de Cossío stated that Havana will officially request details about those involved and the means used, while a thorough investigation progresses.
He recalled that in 2023 and 2025, Cuba handed over to Washington its National List of Terrorists under UN Security Council Resolution 1373, which includes two perpetrators of the attack, Amijail Sánchez González and Leordán Cruz Gómez, who resided in the United States without facing legal consequences.
The Deputy Foreign Minister denounced that most terrorist acts against Cuba over six decades have been organized from U.S. soil and reaffirmed the sovereign duty to defend territorial waters protected by international law.
