Two Cuba-bound aid vessels carrying humanitarian supplies have been located by Mexican authorities after losing contact in the Caribbean Sea.
The boats, named Friendship and Tiger Moth, were found days after their disappearance prompted concern among organizers of the Nuestra America Convoy.
Key Details
A spokesman for the Nuestra America Convoy confirmed that the Mexican Navy located the vessels without explaining why they had initially disappeared from radar screens.
The crews are safe, with nine members on board representing Poland, France, Cuba, and the United States. The ships departed Isla Mujeres in Mexico's easternmost state of Quintana Roo on March 20.
They were scheduled to arrive at their destination on Monday or Tuesday before continuing their journey to Havana.
"The vessels are continuing their journey to [the Cuban capital] Havana," the Nuestra America Convoy spokesman said.
"The convoy remains on track to complete its mission - delivering urgently needed humanitarian aid to the Cuban people," he added.
Regional Context
Volunteers and non-governmental organisations have largely spearheaded efforts to deliver humanitarian aid since US President Donald Trump's oil embargo began in January.
The United Nations has warned Cuba faces dire supply shortages, with more than 50,000 surgeries cancelled due to fuel constraints and ageing infrastructure causing blackouts.
Earlier in the week, the Cuban government celebrated another boat carrying 14 tonnes of aid dubbed Granma 2.0 after the vessel Fidel Castro used for his revolution.
Political Tensions
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Cuba needs to change its system and economic model if it wants a better future during a meeting in France.
"You need to change the people in charge, you need to change the system that runs the country, and you need to change the economic model that it is following," Rubio told reporters.
Rubio denied there was a naval blockade around the island, attributing fuel shortages to a lack of free oil rather than US policy restrictions on shipments.
The Cuban government confirmed it is in talks with the US but insisted that the political system of Cuba is not up for negotiation despite Western pressure.
What Is Next
Observers will watch closely to see if similar vessels face interception or harassment along the route from Mexico to the Caribbean island nation.
The resilience of these aid convoys highlights the complex humanitarian and geopolitical stakes in the region as tensions between Washington and Havana remain high.
