Russia defends Cuba's actions after deadly confrontation with US-boarded vessel

MOSCOW

Russia considers Cuba’s actions justified in a Wednesday confrontation with a US speedboat that tried to enter the waters of the island nation, the Kremlin said.

The Cuban border guards "did what they had to do in this situation,” said spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Thursday.

"There is nothing to comment on here,” he said, adding that the Cuban nationals now living in the US who attempted to enter the island's territory with weapons in hand “confessed” they were trying to do so “for the purpose of carrying out terrorist actions.”

Russia urges all parties to exercise restraint and prevent any provocations that could lead to escalation, he said.

"As for security around the island, it is, of course, very important that everyone exercises restraint and does not allow any provocative actions," he said.

Separately, speaking with state news agency Tass, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called the incident "an aggressive provocation by the US, the goal of which is to escalate the situation and spark a conflict.”

On Wednesday, the Cuban Interior Ministry said a boat registered in the US state of Florida entered the waters of the island nation. People on board the boat began shooting at Cuban border guards who approached them.

In the shootout, the Cuban border patrol commander was wounded while four of the assailants were killed and another six were injured, it said.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio -- a Cuban American born in Miami, Florida -- said Wednesday that authorities are investigating the incident, adding: “We’re going to find out exactly what happened here, and then we’ll respond accordingly.”

The deadly incident came amid heightened tensions as the Trump administration has tightened economic pressure on Cuba and expanded US maritime operations in the Caribbean, including strikes on vessels Washington says are involved in drug trafficking.

Florida -- which comes as close as 90 miles (145 kilometers) to Cuba -- has a large expatriate Cuban population known for its fierce opposition to the island’s communist government.

In 1961, in the Bay of Pigs incident, a group of US-backed Cuban exiles failed in their attempt to invade the island.