A search and rescue operation is underway in the Caribbean for two missing sailboats filled with humanitarian supplies traveling from Mexico to Cuba.
Mexico has deployed naval teams and military search aircraft to locate the Friendship and Tigger Moth, which were carrying at least nine crew members, the Mexican navy said in a statement.
The vessels had been expected to arrive in Havana on Tuesday or Wednesday, but there has been no communication from them and no confirmation of their arrival, the navy reported.
The Mexican navy stated its commitment to using all available resources to locate the boats and ensure the safety of the crews.
The two missing ships departed Isla Mujeres, in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, on March 20.
The nine crew members comprise individuals from Poland, France, Cuba, and the US. Mexico has established contact with maritime rescue coordination centers from each respective country along with their diplomatic representatives.
The captains and crews are experienced sailors, and both vessels are equipped with appropriate safety systems and signaling equipment, the convoy's spokesperson stated. We are cooperating fully with the authorities and remain confident in the crews' ability to reach Havana safely.
There has been no comment on the missing boats from the Cuban government.
Just earlier this week, the Cuban government warmly welcomed another boat that delivered 14 tons of humanitarian aid to the island, including solar panels, medicines, baby formula, bicycles, and food.
Since January, volunteers and NGOs have led efforts to deliver humanitarian aid to Cuba, exacerbated by the recent fuel embargo imposed by US President Donald Trump.
The United Nations has sounded alarms over dire supply shortages, revealing that over 50,000 surgeries have been canceled in Cuba due to electricity supply constraints.
The country has heavily relied on Mexico's humanitarian shipments amid struggles through nationwide blackouts. Tensions have also escalated, with US forces seizing former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, altering the dynamics of aid that Cuba previously received from Venezuela.
Last week, Trump hinted at a potential friendly takeover of Cuba, prompting a firm response from the Cuban government, stating that its political system is not negotiable.
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel disclosed that initial stages of negotiations between the US and Cuba had commenced, although their progress remains uncertain.
