Two ships carrying aid to Cuba, both sailing under the Polish flag, have disappeared with nine crew members aboard, including one Polish citizen.
Search Operation Underway
The vessels departed from the port of Isla Mujeres in Quintana Roo, Mexico, on March 20th, carrying food and other supplies intended for Havana, with an expected arrival between March 24th and 25th. According to Mexican media, the crew includes citizens of Poland, France, Cuba, and the United States.
Contact with the ships has been completely lost, and a search operation is currently in progress.
Polish Foreign Ministry Monitoring Situation
Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not confirmed the presence of a Polish national on board either vessel. A ministry spokesperson stated that the situation is being monitored and confirmed both ships were registered under the Polish flag, but there is no information indicating a Polish citizen was among the crew.
Mexico Deploys Military Resources
Mexico has dispatched helicopters to search along the ships’ planned routes. Representatives from the humanitarian organization Nuestra America, which organized the aid mission, stated the captain and crew are experienced, and the vessels were equipped with appropriate safety and signaling systems.
The missing ships are small vessels – a catamaran and a yacht – registered in Poland and chartered in Mexico.
Mexican Navy Committed to Search
The Mexican Navy has announced it will utilize all available resources to locate the missing crews and ensure their safety.
Cuba Faces Growing Crisis
U.S. President Donald Trump has increased economic pressure on Cuba through additional sanctions, halting Venezuelan oil deliveries and threatening tariffs on countries supplying oil to the island.
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel recently revealed that Cuba has not received imported oil for three months, leading to daily power outages and shortages of essential goods. Cuba is experiencing its most severe supply difficulties since the 1959 communist revolution, with widespread shortages of drinking water.
Aid from Mexico and China
In recent weeks, Havana has relied heavily on Mexican assistance. Mexico recently sent a ship carrying 14 tons of humanitarian aid to Cuba, expressing solidarity with Latin America.
On Thursday, over 15,000 tons of rice arrived in Cuba from China, the second delivery of a promised total of 60,000 tons.
Trump’s Comments on Cuba
President Trump, who has previously suggested the possibility of “taking” Cuba, stated on March 16th that it makes no difference whether he “liberates” or “takes” the country, asserting he could do “whatever I want” with it, given its current weakened state.