Gaborone, Botswana – Cuba’s newly appointed Ambassador to Botswana, Antonio Luis Pubillones Izaguirre, has issued a stark appeal to the international community: “Don’t forget us in our hour of need.”

His remarks, in an exclusive interview with The Pan Afrikanist, come as Havana reports a foiled armed infiltration attempt, which officials say was orchestrated from the United States.

The Cuban Ministry of the Interior announced Thursday that Border Guard Troops intercepted a speedboat in the El Pino channel, Villa Clara province.

The vessel, registered in Florida, carried 10 armed men equipped with assault rifles, handguns, Molotov cocktails, body armour, and camouflage uniforms.

Six suspects were detained, one confirmed dead, and three remain unidentified. Authorities say all participants were Cuban nationals residing in the United States, several with prior records of violent activity.

Among those arrested were Amijail Sánchez González and Leordan Enrique Cruz Gómez, both listed on Cuba’s National List of individuals designated under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1373 for alleged involvement in terrorist activities. A Cuban national, Duniel Hernández Santos, was also arrested inside Cuba, reportedly confessing to facilitating the landing of the armed group.

Ambassador Izaguirre linked the incident to what he described as a decades-long campaign of “state terrorism” by Washington.

“Financed and organised by the US government, they have killed more than 3,450 Cubans since 1959. We live under pressure,” he said.

The incident comes against the backdrop of heightened tensions. Cuba continues to endure the U.S. economic embargo, while Washington has intensified criticism of Havana’s medical diplomacy.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has branded Cuba’s overseas medical programme “human trafficking” and urged governments to reject it. Izaguirre dismissed the claims, noting Cuba’s doctors have long supported Botswana’s healthcare system.

Cuban officials say the attempted infiltration bears the hallmarks of U.S. involvement, drawing parallels to past interventions in Latin America.

The ambassador warned that the attack underscores ongoing efforts to destabilise the island nation, comparing it to Washington’s campaign against Venezuela.

(C) TPA2026