Two Cuba-Headed Relief Sailboats Declared Missing after Departing Mexico.

A large-scale search and recovery mission is currently in progress in the Caribbean waters for a pair of lost boats carrying relief goods journeying from Mexico to Cuba.

Naval Rescue Missions Deployed

Authorities in Mexico has dispatched naval teams and reconnaissance aircraft to search for the missing boats, which were transporting no fewer than nine crew members, per a military release.

The boats had been expected to arrive in the Cuban capital on either Tuesday or Wednesday, but there has been no communication from them and no confirmation of their arrival, authorities reported.

Context of Aid to Cuba

The island nation has depended significantly on Mexico's over the last several weeks, as the nation endures widespread power outages across the country.

"The captains and crews are seasoned mariners, and the two ships are outfitted with suitable navigational gear and emergency beacons," an official involved in the effort stated.

The nine-person crew are nationals of France, Poland, the United States, and Cuba. Mexico said it has been in touch with coast guard agencies from those nations along with their embassy officials.

"The group is working closely with the relevant authorities and remain confident in the capability of the sailors to make it to Cuba without incident," the official further stated.

Previous Aid Shipment

Previously that week, the Cuban government widely celebrated and officially received a separate vessel that had carried a significant amount of donated goods to the country.

That boat, dubbed "a new Granma" after the yacht in which the revolutionary leader returned to Cuba to launch the Cuban Revolution in the mid-20th century, carried solar equipment, pharmaceuticals, infant formula, bikes and foodstuffs.

Wider Geopolitical Backdrop

Charity groups and individuals have largely spearheaded efforts to deliver essential supplies to Cuba since January, when a fuel embargo on the country came into effect.

The United Nations have since highlighted ""critical" shortages of supplies, with more than 50,000 operations postponed in Cuba because of power shortages.

Diplomatic measures have been ramped up lately, with comments from different leaders emphasizing the delicate situation regarding bilateral relations.

Responding to recent comments, a senior Cuban official declared that "the governance model of Cuba is non-negotiable."

Accounts suggest that initial phases of talks had begun, although their current progress remains unclear.

The naval forces affirmed it was dedicated to using all of the resources at its disposal to discover the vessels and secure the safety of the sailors.

As of now, there has been no official comment on the lost ships by the government in Havana.