Published March 27, 2026
The Mexican Navy and U.S. Coast Guard say they are continuing to search for two missing sailboats that were part of a humanitarian aid convoy bound for Cuba this week.
The two ships, with nine people on board, left Isla Mujeres, Mexico, on March 20. It was originally scheduled to arrive on Tuesday or Wednesday of this week.
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The ships are part of an expedition organized by the Nuesta America Convoy, which accuses the U.S. government of “strangling” Cuba by “cutting off fuel, flights, and critical supplies for survival.”
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel was among those expressing concern about the boat’s fate on Friday.
“We express particular concern regarding the two Mexican ships transporting solidarity aid to #Cuba as part of #ConvoyNuestraAmérica,” he wrote on social media.
“As a nation, we are committed to searching for and rescuing our brothers in arms.”
Earlier on Friday, the US Coast Guard retracted its statement to AFP news agency that the boat had been found.
The search effort is currently being led by Cuba and Mexico, but the U.S. Coast Guard told Reuters it was ready to help. “We remain vigilant and stand ready to provide assistance if requested.”
The convoy was sent in response to the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Cuba, where foreign oil supplies have been largely cut off since January.
That same month, the United States launched a military operation to kidnap and imprison Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. After the attack, US President Donald Trump announced that Venezuela, Cuba’s close regional ally, would no longer supply money or oil to the island.
President Trump went even further on January 29, declaring Cuba a national security threat and vowing to impose tariffs on countries that directly or indirectly supply oil to Cuba.
The Trump administration has indicated it wants regime change in Cuba, a position echoed by top U.S. diplomat Marco Rubio on Friday.
“The Cuban economy needs to change, but you can’t change the economy unless the governance changes. It’s that simple,” said Rubio, a Cuban-American who has long opposed the Havana government.
“Who would invest billions of dollars in a communist country? Who would invest billions in a communist country that is worse than a communist run by incompetent communists?”
Cuba has been subject to a long-term trade embargo by the United States since the 1960s. But President Trump has increased U.S. pressure on the island, with the United Nations warning of a humanitarian “collapse” on the island.
Its energy grid is a system considered obsolete, but it relies heavily on fossil fuels to function.
MARCH 21 (Reuters) – Cuba faces its second island-wide power outage in less than a week, with medical experts warning that without electricity, life-saving medical care will be impossible and patients will die.
Mexico and other countries have stepped up humanitarian aid to Cuba amid the crisis, with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum sending ships loaded with supplies.
The Nuestra America convoy originally sent several ships to Cuba last Friday.
One of the vessels, a former fishing boat, arrived safely in Havana on Tuesday carrying 14 tons of food and medicine, 73 solar panels and about 12 bicycles. During part of the voyage, she was escorted by the Mexican Navy.
The convoy told international media it was confident the missing sailboat would be recovered, adding that both vessels were led by “experienced sailors” who had access to signals and safety equipment.
“We are cooperating fully with the authorities and remain confident that the crew will arrive safely in Havana,” the fleet said in a statement.
Still, some in Havana expressed concern about the ship’s fate.
“They came to help and now they are missing,” taxi driver Yudiser Otto, 45, told AFP. “That’s sad.”
