AGP Executive Report

EU Humanitarian Push: The European Commission approved another €10 million in humanitarian aid for Cuba, targeting fuel-shortage and grid-collapse fallout—medicines, primary and maternal care, emergency food and nutrition for children and mothers, plus water repairs and logistical support for remote areas, with renewable-energy solutions also in the mix. Energy & Daily Life: The funding comes as Cuba’s electricity failures keep disrupting access to basic supplies and healthcare, underscoring how the island’s energy crisis is now a direct industrial and services problem. Trade Relief for Food Supply Chains: The Dominican Republic resumed egg exports to Cuba after a blockade-related logistics pause, sending 12 containers with about 3.9 million eggs and aiming for more than 13 million eggs monthly, a short-haul supply boost valued for freshness. Local Governance Under Strain: In Havana, Díaz-Canel’s municipal defense-council visits wrapped up a leadership “exchange” cycle focused on electricity distribution and water service—issues that cut across neighborhoods and keep returning.

Power Grid & Energy: Holguín electrical workers are heading to Havana to help rebalance circuits, upgrade networks, and replace transformers as Cuba’s National Electric System struggles with prolonged blackouts. Digital Payments: Cuba’s Central Bank scrapped the 5,000 CUP cash limit for transactions between economic actors and will move toward faster digital crediting for businesses starting Aug. 1. Humanitarian Logistics: The U.S. sent the first batch of $100M aid—700 food kits and 700 hygiene kits—delivered via Caritas Cuba to municipalities including Alquizar, Artemisa, and Bejucal. Local Governance Push: Díaz-Canel told Havana municipalities to deliver visible “improvement,” promising autonomy over exports, imports, foreign investment, and local investments. Private Solar Rollouts: Frenas Conmigo installed solar systems for isolated Holguín homes and key institutions, supporting the shift in the energy matrix. Tourism Shock: Spanish hotel giant Meliá says it will end operations in Cuba by July 24, citing legal and financial hurdles tied to sanctions. Migration Pressure: A new estimate puts 2025 emigration at 245,774 people, driven by blackouts, shortages, and collapsing job prospects.

Humanitarian Aid & Supply Chains: A U.S. cargo flight left Miami for Cuba carrying 700 hygiene kits and 700 food packages, with delivery routed through the Catholic Church and Caritas Cuba as Washington frames the move as direct help amid shortages. Diplomatic Clash: Cuba’s government and Díaz-Canel’s office strongly rejected a new U.S. State Department report alleging “subversion” and espionage, calling it “neo-McCarthyism” and a pretext for sanctions and possible aggression. Energy & Industry Pressure: Cuba’s Habano Festival was canceled again, with organizers citing inability to guarantee “standards of excellence” amid blackouts and fuel shortages—another sign premium tourism and luxury events are getting squeezed. Tourism & Investment: Spanish hotel group Meliá announced it will fully shut operations in Cuba, blaming legal, economic and financial hurdles tied to U.S. sanctions and the blockade. Local Development & Skills: Guáimaro’s university center held a graduation ceremony for 71 students across fields including agronomy, civil engineering, and informatics, pushing graduates toward regional socioeconomic and cultural development.

Humanitarian Logistics: The U.S. sent a first tranche of $60M (part of $100M) in food and hygiene kits from Miami to Cuba, with 700 packages delivered via Catholic partners to bypass Havana, as Washington keeps tightening pressure. Tourism Shock: Spanish hotel group Meliá announced it will fully shut down in Cuba, citing sanctions and legal/financial hurdles after U.S. moves blacklisted Cuba’s tourism ministry partner. Water & Infrastructure: Holguín is rolling out water-supply investments—treatment plants, pipelines, and solar power for pumping—to ease drought and leak-driven shortages in multiple municipalities. University Innovation: An EU-funded Innolabs program is strengthening STEM labs at Cuban universities to tackle local problems and build prototypes, including a construction-materials hackathon. Energy Strain on Industry: Cuba canceled the 26th Habano Festival in Havana to protect event standards amid a worsening energy crisis tied to the U.S. oil blockade. Energy Governance: Díaz-Canel pushed “most capable” leadership for Havana’s Defense Zones as the national power system reported a record generation deficit and multiple nationwide collapses.

Military Human Cost: A Cuban Citizen Audit Observatory report says at least 97 recruits died or disappeared during mandatory service from 2001-2026, with suicide the top documented cause (34%), and 2025 the worst year (22 cases). Energy & Daily Survival: With blackouts and fuel limits biting hard, Cubans are reverting to firewood, charcoal and improvised charcoal stoves built from discarded materials—an “almost indigenous” workaround to keep cooking and power basic life. Tourism & Hospitality Pressure: Meliá says it will end operations in Cuba by July 24, citing persistent legal, economic and financial instability; separately, Havana’s beach leisure is described as collapsing under near-total outages. Innovation for Industry: The EU-funded Innolabs project is strengthening STEM labs at Cuban universities (Cujae, Cienfuegos, Holguín), including prototyping and a construction-materials hackathon. Trade/Investment Context: Cuba’s foreign ministry and Díaz-Canel denounce a new U.S. State Department “blacklist” report on alleged espionage and “subversion,” while Cuba’s UN push targets the U.S. blockade’s economic impact. Humanitarian Supply Chain: The Open Arms “Rumbo a Cuba” sailboat Astral delivered seven tons of solar panels, backup batteries and medical supplies to Havana’s Juan Manuel Márquez Pediatric Hospital.

Military Service Crisis: A new Ocac report says at least 97 Cubans died during Active Military Service since 2001, with suicide the leading cause (33 cases), and warns of rising deaths alongside weak transparency and accountability. U.S.-Cuba Tensions: A U.S. State Department report alleges Cuba ran a decades-long espionage and subversion campaign tied to U.S. left-wing groups, as Cuba’s foreign minister calls it a pretext for possible military aggression. Energy & Health: Open Arms delivered seven tons of solar equipment and medical supplies to Havana’s Juan Manuel Márquez Pediatric Hospital, as Cuban health officials link hospital outages to the “energy blockade” and cite impacts on surgeries, medicine storage, and child cancer outcomes. Power Grid Fallout: Blackouts and shortages are worsening daily life, with reports of spoiled food and households losing refrigerated goods as the grid collapses repeatedly. Mining & Industry Links: Analysis highlights China’s growing technological support in Cuba’s strategic nickel sector, deepening dependence in critical minerals supply chains. Logistics & Aid Flow: Container trucking and port logistics are moving flour, medicine, and solar panels, while shipping agencies also collect donations for regional earthquake relief. Local Business Pressure: Even state-linked firms are struggling—Cimex is auctioning 12 establishments in Sancti Spíritus—signaling pressure across Cuba’s retail and services.

US-Cuba Spying Accusations: The U.S. State Department escalated its campaign against Cuba, alleging Cuban spies infiltrated top levels of Washington and backed left-wing activism, as Trump pushes to end communist rule and tightens sanctions and an effective oil blockade. Power and Service Strain: In Santiago de Cuba, residents in Veguita de Galo report 26 straight days without electricity after a transformer replacement failed almost immediately; in Havana, neighborhood pot-banging and street fires spread in Centro Habana and Lawton amid repeated blackouts and police confrontations. Cuba’s Economic Reform Push: Díaz-Canel reiterated that reforms aim to “save the Revolution” by unleashing productive forces and distributing wealth with social justice, while debate continues over how far state control is being loosened. Energy Aid via Solidarity Shipping: The sailboat Astral, tied to Spain’s Open Arms “Rumbo a Cuba” project, arrived in Havana carrying a photovoltaic kit for the Juan Manuel Márquez Pediatric Hospital, highlighting how humanitarian and energy support is moving despite sanctions. Agriculture/Business Policy Signals: Cuba’s State Council approved decree-laws to implement economic and social transformations, including measures affecting the business system and agricultural cooperatives. AI Governance Watch: WAICO’s launch and China’s push for a parallel AI governance order are gaining attention globally, with Indonesia joining as a founding member—relevant for future tech rules that could shape regional industry.

Energy & Power Crisis: Cuba’s grid keeps buckling, with July 14’s total blackout and a record electricity deficit of 2,341 MW feeding daily outages that can last 20–24 hours (and over 40 in some provinces), while the government points to the U.S. oil embargo and sanctions. Street Protests in Havana: In Central Havana, residents in Consulado and Refugio streets staged a cookware protest and confronted police after days without electricity; similar pot-banging and trash-burning protests spread through Lawton and El Vedado. Cash & Payments Reform: The Central Bank of Cuba removed the 5,000-peso cash cap for transactions, replacing it with more flexible rules under Resolution 74/2026 effective July 20, as liquidity shortages and inflation collide with energy instability. Cost-of-Living Backlash: Reactions to Díaz-Canel’s wage and pension claims show anger over prices—readers cite oil, eggs, and basic food costs that make the increases feel like a “joke.” Food Quality Complaints: In Guantánamo, residents denounced “horror movie bread” from the basic basket after viral comparisons of weight and quality. Business Moves: Cimex opened bidding to lease 12 commercial sites in Sancti Spíritus, inviting state firms, self-employed workers, and MSMEs. International Solidarity: The “Rumbo a Cuba” mission, led by Open Arms, arrived in Havana on the Astral sailboat to support the Juan Manuel Márquez Pediatric Hospital. UNESCO Science Policy: Cuba’s science minister presented eight proposals on scientific policies for sustainable development at UNESCO just as the island faced another major blackout. Detention Over Criticism: A Havana-area woman was reported detained for 10 days after a Facebook video directly challenging top officials over the electricity crisis. Exile After Prison: Dissident Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara arrived in Miami after five years in prison, framing his freedom as a push to keep working and end the dictatorship.

Power & Cost of Living: Cubans are reacting angrily to Díaz-Canel’s claims of salary and pension increases, with readers saying the hikes won’t last “three days” against inflation and scarcity, spotlighting prices for cooking oil and eggs. Electricity Crisis: Multiple reports keep pointing to Cuba’s grid instability—blackouts, limited daily power, and knock-on effects for water, food, and daily commerce. Energy Theft Incident: In Santiago de Cuba, a 22-year-old is in critical condition after an alleged attempt to steal dielectric oil from a transformer triggered a severe electric shock and damage to nearby power service. Cash System Reform: Cuba’s central bank is moving to make payments more flexible by removing the 5,000-peso cash limit at banks. Agriculture & Production: Cuba is pushing farmers toward biomass and firewood to replace fuel, while state and cooperative reforms aim to strengthen agricultural cooperatives and state-owned enterprises. International Solidarity: The “Rumbo a Cuba” humanitarian mission is set to arrive in Havana, with organizers framing it as a protest against the U.S. blockade. Sanctions Pressure: A human-rights group warns that expanded U.S. sanctions on Cuban institutions—including tourism—are deepening shortages and blocking humanitarian access. Tourism Strain: Tourism continues to struggle as long-haul refueling limits and power cuts hit the island’s main revenue stream.

Energy & Industry Disruption: Havana’s “ice cold” signs are booming as blackouts stretch past 24 hours, turning refrigeration-dependent food and drinks into scarce, high-demand goods. Power Grid Reliability: The Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant reconnects to the national system after a brief 26-minute run, but skepticism spreads online as outages and boiler-leak claims continue. Payment Systems Reform: Cuba’s Central Bank rolls out Resolution 74/2026, removing the 5,000 CUP cash cap for transactions between economic actors and shifting toward negotiated flexibility and incentives for transfer payments. Local Business & Construction Materials: In Las Tunas, state firm Conalza partners with private mipymes to produce cold asphalt and vinyl paint to ease a building-materials crunch. Agriculture & Food Security Pressure: Cuba’s energy collapse is linked to cascading impacts across agriculture, health care, water, transport, and postponed surgeries. Politics & Human Rights: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirms Cuban artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara has arrived in the US, calling for release of hundreds of political prisoners. Local Governance & Social Tension: A Marianao mother accused of encouraging protests says she faced “psychological torture” during interrogation. Sports & National Branding: Díaz-Canel presents Cuba’s flag for the XXV Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo, with a delegation of 500+ athletes.

Central Banking & Payments: Cuba’s Central Bank scrapped the 5,000-peso cash limit for transactions between economic actors, replacing it with a bank-by-bank flexible cash scheme to push more transfer payments. Energy & Grid Stability: Cuba’s national power system keeps buckling, with another collapse triggering widespread blackouts, water failures, and renewed street anger. Public Order & Protests: In Havana, residents in areas like El Cerro and Luyanó staged pot-banging and street blockades over lack of electricity and water, while authorities mobilized rapid-response forces and special police units. Agriculture & Fuel Substitution: Leaders urged farmers to use biomass, firewood, and photovoltaics to cut diesel dependence, including visits to agricultural sites in Mayabeque and Arroyo Naranjo. Logistics & Sanctions Impact: A shipping disruption left humanitarian cargo stranded in Jamaica after CMA CGM suspended bookings to Cuba under U.S. pressure, affecting medical supplies. State Business Rules: New decree-laws were approved to update Cuba’s state enterprise system and agricultural cooperative framework. Education & Youth Outlook: An official journalist highlighted how young Cubans increasingly see university as unprofitable, pushing many toward quick-pay jobs instead.

Energy & Power Crisis: Cuba’s grid keeps failing, with the Antonio Guiteras plant synchronized then shut down in 26 minutes after a boiler leak—another reminder of how fast outages are reshaping daily life. Social Fallout: Blackouts are creating a “new social class” of families who can afford solar panels, while Havana’s Defense Councils push pension payments and “public tranquility” amid fears of unrest. Governance & Business Rules: The State Council approved decree-laws updating the state business system and agricultural cooperatives, aiming to tighten the rules for state enterprises and cooperative management. Sanctions & Logistics: Humanitarian shipments are getting stuck as U.S. pressure pushes carriers to suspend Cuba bookings—millions of syringes and other aid were stranded in Jamaica. Security Pressure: Cuba’s Foreign Ministry denounced U.S. media claims about invasion plans as psychological warfare, while Cuba’s leaders keep warning of escalation risks. Agriculture & Production: Cuba is also adjusting retail prices for liquefied and manufactured gas and related services, affecting household and business operating costs. International Tech Policy: Cuba is pushing for inclusive AI governance at WAIC, focusing AI use in health, education, sustainable agriculture, and disaster management. Sports & Defections: Nine Cuban canoe team members defected during a Canada tour, leaving the federation scrambling ahead of upcoming regional games.

U.S. Sanctions & Energy Pressure on Cuba: Cuba’s Ministry of Finance updated retail prices for liquefied and manufactured gas and mechanical service rates, citing Decree 156 and the oil embargo’s cost squeeze, while broader reporting frames Washington’s “energy siege” as escalating humanitarian harm. Housing & Construction Materials: Sancti Spíritus’ container-to-housing program is behind target: only 17 units are in assembly versus 100+ planned for 2026, blamed on missing module accessories like doors, windows, and cladding. Local Governance & Services: President Miguel Díaz-Canel continued exchanges with Havana’s Municipal Defense Councils, focusing on water, energy generation, solid waste, and timely pension payments across multiple municipalities. Agribusiness/Trade: A Cienfuegos MSME (Aricumay/Arimao Citrus ties) markets agricultural and industrial goods, including textiles and farm supplies, with a push toward exports and hotel/Mariel Zone sales. International Sports & Labor Mobility: Nine Cuban canoe team members defected during a Canada tour, leaving the federation scrambling for replacements ahead of the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games. Global AI Governance With Cuba in the Mix: China’s WAICO launch at WAIC 2026 includes Cuba among founding members, positioning a new AI rule framework alongside Western-led efforts.

Agriculture & Food Security: Cuba’s rice output is getting a boost from Vietnam’s cooperation, with one Pinar del Río state farm unit reporting yields rising from 0.8 tons per hectare to 8 after Vietnamese experts helped change planting methods. Energy & Industry Resilience: China’s foreign ministry urged the U.S. to stop threats of force and the blockade after reports that Washington has been weighing military options against Cuba—amid a backdrop of energy shortages and nationwide blackouts that keep disrupting production and services. Economic Governance: Cuba’s Council of State approved decree-laws to strengthen the Cuban state business system and update rules for agricultural cooperatives, aiming to support the country’s ongoing economic transformations. Telecom Continuity: In Holguín, ETECSA is installing solar-plus-storage backup power at a telephone center in Gibara to keep fixed and mobile services running during outages, using community and non-state support. Payments & Business Friction: A Cuban citizen says Transfermóvil repeatedly fails to submit a Ministry of Finance fine ticket, highlighting how payment systems can break down when state processes don’t complete on time. Global Tech Diplomacy: Xi Jinping used the WAIC in Shanghai to push AI cooperation and equity for developing countries, with Cuba listed among signatories of a new AI cooperation organization.

Energy Crisis: Cuba suffered another nationwide power cut as the National Electric System collapsed again, with the state blaming the U.S. oil embargo and energy “blockade,” while crews work to rebuild service through smaller “microsystems” and priority reconnections. Water & Infrastructure: In Santiago de Cuba, a new break in a 1,000 mm pipeline left large areas without water, forcing shutdowns and reserving supply for hospitals and key facilities. Agriculture & Food Supply: A Granma dairy producer says the State buys milk at 38 pesos per liter but sells it to consumers at 25, calling the pricing and delayed payments a “backward” system that hurts farmers. U.S. Pressure on Cuba: Multiple reports this week frame Washington’s actions as escalating pressure on Cuba’s energy and tourism sectors, with lawmakers and officials citing sanctions’ direct impact on daily life. Climate Risk: CariCOF warns El Niño plus warmer Caribbean seas could mean hotter, drier conditions and higher flood risk during the 2026 wet season.

Power Crisis: Cuba’s National Electric System suffered a third total blackout in nine days, leaving about 10 million people without electricity; UNE and officials blamed “energy asphyxiation” tied to the U.S. oil blockade, while restoration efforts restarted after generating-unit problems triggered cascading failure. Food & Health Supply: Brazil delivered powdered milk to Santiago de Cuba (48 tons, with more shipments reported), as Cuba links grid collapses to sanctions that disrupt refrigeration and hospital operations. Sanctions & Trade: The U.S. Treasury added Cuba’s Ministry of Tourism (MINTUR) and related entities to sanctions, while French and German shipping firms suspended Cuba-bound shipments after new U.S. executive-order restrictions, including medical supplies. Military Pressure: U.S. planners are reportedly assessing scenarios for action against Cuba, including an air assault concept involving the 101st Airborne Division, though officials stress it’s not a decision. Agriculture Coping: Fuel-starved farms are shifting from tractors to oxen, highlighting how the energy crunch is reshaping production on the ground.