In brief
A search and rescue operation is currently underway in the Caribbean for two sailboats, Friendship and Tigger Moth, which went missing while transporting humanitarian supplies from Mexico to Cuba. The vessels were last heard from on March 20, and the Mexican navy has deployed naval teams and military aircraft in the search effort. Both boats are crewed by nine experienced sailors from Poland, France, Cuba, and the U.S.
A search and rescue operation is under way in the Caribbean for two missing sailboats filled with humanitarian supplies travelling 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 said.
The Mexican navy is committed 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 20 March.
The nine crew members are from Poland, France, Cuba, and the U.S. Mexico has established contact with maritime rescue coordination centres from each country along with their diplomatic representatives.
The captains and crews are experienced sailors, and both vessels are equipped with appropriate safety systems and signalling equipment, the convoy's spokesperson said in a statement to Reuters.
We are co-operating fully with the authorities and remain confident in the crews' ability to reach Havana safely.
There has been no comment on the missing boats by the Cuban government.
Previously, Cuba celebrated another boat that delivered 14 tonnes of humanitarian aid to the island earlier in the week.
The vessel, dubbed Granma 2.0, delivered vital supplies such as solar panels, medicines, baby formula, bicycles, and food to Cuba, highlighting the crucial nature of these missions amid ongoing supply shortages in the country.
The United Nations has warned of dire supply shortages, with more than 50,000 surgeries cancelled in Cuba due to electricity supply constraints exacerbated by a long-standing U.S. energy blockade.
Trump's policies have tightened restrictions on Cuba in recent months, impacting humanitarian efforts which have become increasingly reliant on shipments from Mexico in light of multiple nationwide blackouts and the wider geopolitical context.
Cuban authorities have been engaged in diplomatic negotiations, although public comments about the missing boats remain limited.
