Two Cuba-bound Aid Sailboats Reported Lost after Setting Sail from Mexico.

A extensive search and rescue operation is currently in progress in the Caribbean waters for a duo of missing boats transporting humanitarian supplies journeying from Mexico to Cuba.

Military Search Operations Initiated

Mexico has deployed naval assets and reconnaissance aircraft to find the missing boats, which were carrying no fewer than nine sailors, per a official statement.

The ships had been projected to make landfall in Havana on either Tuesday or Wednesday, but there has been radio silence from them and zero verification of their docking, authorities reported.

Context of Relief to Cuba

The island nation has leaned on Mexico's over the last several weeks, as the island struggles through multiple nationwide blackouts.

"The crews and captains are seasoned mariners, and each boat are equipped with appropriate safety systems and signalling equipment," a spokesperson involved in the effort stated.

The nine individuals on board are nationals of Poland, France, Cuba and the US. Mexican authorities said it has been in touch with coast guard agencies from the involved countries along with their diplomatic representatives.

"Our team is working closely with the relevant authorities and continue to be hopeful in the ability of the crews to reach Havana safely," the statement continued.

Recent Aid Shipment

Earlier in the week, the Cuban government publicly celebrated and officially received a separate vessel that had transported 14 tons of humanitarian aid to the island.

That vessel, nicknamed "a new Granma" following the name of the yacht in which the revolutionary leader returned to Cuba to launch the armed struggle in the mid-20th century, brought solar panels, drugs, baby formula, bikes and foodstuffs.

Wider Political Climate

Non-governmental organizations and volunteers have primarily led initiatives to deliver critical assistance to Cuba starting at the turn of the year, coinciding with the time a fuel embargo on the Communist-run nation was initiated.

Global bodies have since raised alarms about ""critical" supply shortages, with in excess of fifty thousand surgical procedures called off in Cuba amid power shortages.

Political tensions have been ramped up lately, with remarks from several representatives emphasizing the delicate state of relations.

In response to certain proposals, a prominent government figure declared that "the political system of Cuba is non-negotiable."

Indications suggest that early stages of negotiations commenced, although their ongoing development remains unclear.

The naval forces said it was committed to using every available asset at its reach to discover the sailboats and ensure the security of the people on board.

As of now, there has been no public statement on the missing boats by the Cuban leadership.