Two Cuba-Destined Aid Vessels Reported Unaccounted For after Leaving the Coast of Mexico.

A large-scale search and rescue operation is actively ongoing in the Caribbean Sea for two lost sailing vessels transporting aid cargo traveling from the Mexican coast to Havana.

Naval Search and Rescue Missions Deployed

The Mexican government has sent naval assets and military search aircraft to search for the missing boats, which were transporting no fewer than 9 sailors, per a military release.

The vessels had been scheduled to reach Cuba's capital on Tuesday or Wednesday, but there has been a complete lack of contact from them and no confirmation of their safe arrival, authorities reported.

Background of Aid to Cuba

The island nation has leaned on humanitarian shipments from Mexico over recent weeks, as the nation grapples with multiple nationwide blackouts.

"The captains and crews are seasoned mariners, and each boat are fitted with appropriate safety systems and communication devices," a spokesperson associated with the mission said.

The nine-person crew are citizens of France, Poland, the United States, and Cuba. Officials said it has opened communications with coast guard agencies from those nations along with their consular staff.

"Our team is co-operating fully with the officials and remain confident in the capability of the sailors to safely arrive in Havana," the spokesperson added.

Recent Relief Delivery

Previously that week, the government in Havana publicly celebrated and officially received a different ship that had carried 14 tonnes of donated goods to the country.

That ship, dubbed "Granma 2.0" following the name of the vessel in which the revolutionary leader landed in Cuba to begin the revolution in the 1950s, delivered photovoltaic panels, drugs, baby formula, bicycles and food.

Larger International Backdrop

Non-governmental organizations and volunteers have primarily led efforts to ship essential supplies to Cuba beginning in January, when a oil sanctions on the island nation was initiated.

The United Nations have since raised alarms about "dire" supply shortages, with more than 50k operations called off in Cuba due to power shortages.

Political tensions have increased in recent months, with statements from various leaders highlighting the complicated nature of bilateral relations.

Responding to recent proposals, a senior government figure declared that "the governance model of Cuba is not subject to discussion."

Accounts suggest that preliminary steps of talks were initiated, although their current progress remains not publicly known.

The maritime authorities said it was pledged to using the full extent of its capabilities at its command to find the sailboats and secure the security of the crews.

As of now, there has been no public statement on the lost ships by the Cuban government.