A Pair of Cuba-bound Relief Ships Reported Lost following Setting Sail from the Coast of Mexico.

A large-scale search and rescue mission is currently in progress in the Caribbean waters for a duo of lost sailing vessels carrying aid cargo traveling from Mexico to Havana.

Maritime Search Efforts Deployed

Mexico has deployed naval assets and search planes to locate the missing boats, which were had on board at least 9 sailors, per a navy statement.

The vessels had been expected to make landfall in Havana on Tuesday or Wednesday, but there has been radio silence from them and zero verification of their safe arrival, the navy said.

Background of Aid to the Nation

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

"Both captains and crews are experienced sailors, and the two ships are outfitted with proper safety systems and emergency beacons," an official associated with the mission stated.

The nine individuals on board are citizens of the United States, Cuba, France, and Poland. Mexican authorities said it has opened communications with coast guard agencies from each country along with their consular staff.

"Our team is working closely with the relevant authorities and continue to be hopeful in the crews' ability to safely arrive in Havana," the spokesperson added.

Previous Humanitarian Mission

Earlier in the week, the Cuban authorities warmly welcomed and officially received a separate vessel that had delivered 14 tonnes of relief supplies to the country.

That ship, nicknamed "a modern Granma" following the name of the boat in which Castro returned to Cuba to begin the Cuban Revolution in the 1950s, carried solar panels, medicines, infant formula, bicycles and provisions.

Broader International Climate

Volunteers and NGOs have been at the forefront of initiatives to ship humanitarian aid to Cuba since January, when a oil sanctions on the country was initiated.

Global bodies have since warned of ""severe" supply shortages, with more than fifty thousand surgical procedures called off in Cuba due to electricity supply constraints.

Political measures have been ramped up lately, with comments from various leaders highlighting the complicated nature of bilateral relations.

Responding to previous statements, a high-ranking government figure stated firmly that "the political system of Cuba is non-negotiable."

Reports suggest that initial phases of discussions commenced, although their ongoing development remains not publicly known.

The Mexican navy affirmed it was dedicated to using every available asset at its disposal to find the sailboats and secure the well-being of the crews.

At this time, there has been no official comment on the lost ships by the Cuban government.