AGP Executive Report

Medicine Shortages: A Havana volunteer’s free pharmacy project is filling gaps left by increasingly empty state pharmacies, distributing requested medicines through WhatsApp as the economic crisis deepens. Power Emergency: Electricity was restored in eastern Cuba after a grid failure, but repeated outages persist amid aging power plants and fuel shortages; U.S. solar imports are helping some households and businesses keep lights on. Water and Welfare: Reports of dirty water and diarrheal illness in Santiago de Cuba add to public-service concerns. Provincial authorities say more than 10% of residents are vulnerable and will receive food packages. U.S.-Cuba Tensions: Washington seized more than 2.27 million liters of fuel bound for a sanctioned Cuban entity, while Havana denounced U.S. interceptions as “piracy” and says the two countries communicate without formal negotiations. Foreign Ties: Venezuelan economists estimate Cuba’s oil debt to Caracas at at least $20 billion, tied to decades of fuel-for-services cooperation.

U.S.–Cuba Tensions: Reports of U.S. seizures of fuel shipments bound for a sanctioned Cuban entity have sharpened a dispute over trade restrictions. Havana says Washington has no authority to dictate the island’s trading partners; Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez also dismissed the latest U.S. trafficking report as “unilateral and deceitful.” The report kept Cuba at Tier 3, citing alleged forced labor in its overseas medical program. Private Health Care: Camagüey authorities threatened legal action against operators of a private clinic offering services for dollars, saying private medical practice is prohibited under a 2026 decree-law. The crackdown has renewed complaints that foreigners can access private care while Cubans cannot. Political Rights: On the 158th anniversary of the Grito de Yara, critics contrasted independence-era calls for freedom with today’s one-party system and penalties for dissent. Economic Strains: Military-owned tourism group Gaviota says just 3,470 of its more than 30,000 hotel rooms are operating, as visitor numbers plunge and the energy crisis deepens. Official figures also show a sharp population decline in 2025, driven by emigration and more deaths than births.

Fuel Dispute: Havana called the U.S. seizure of 2.2 million liters of biodiesel bound for a sanctioned Cuban state company “piracy.” Meanwhile, U.S. fuel exports to the island reached a record $74.8 million in August, largely diesel and gasoline. U.S. Policy: A newly reported visa measure lists Cuba among 19 countries facing a full suspension of U.S. visa issuance. Separately, Senate staff found 445 government employees at the Guantánamo migrant facility in August but no detainees; the operation has cost more than $100 million. Life on the Island: A Communist Party newspaper editor described children begging and older people searching trash for food in Matanzas, while residents in Cárdenas criticized a new state market for prices matching or exceeding private shops. Regional Ties: Cuban and Brazilian officials marked 40 years since restoring diplomatic relations, celebrating longstanding political and cultural links.

U.S.-Cuba Sanctions: New U.S. rules restrict indirect dealings with listed Cuban entities and end some travel authorizations. After Washington seized nearly $2.8 million in fuel shipments bound for Cuba, Havana called the move “piracy” and said the U.S. cannot dictate who trades with the island. Economic Strain: Díaz-Canel acknowledged rising poverty after a caller described people searching through trash for food; he blamed sanctions, aging and the legacy of the Special Period. State ration stores are also giving way to higher-priced neighborhood markets, where a pound of beans costs more than a tenth of an average state monthly wage. Public Services: Guantánamo authorities acknowledged salary delays for commerce and security workers without giving a payment date. A report also put dengue cases above 11,000 this year, far higher than expected. Political Rights: A father says prison officials in Sancti Spíritus denied him a visit and food for his imprisoned son, after 84 days apart. Separately, authorities reportedly detained political prisoner Alexander Díaz Rodríguez again as supporters sought a humanitarian visa for him.

Fuel Dispute: U.S. authorities say they seized 90 biodiesel shipments worth $2.8 million, alleging they were bound for Cuban state-linked company ENETEC. Havana’s foreign minister condemned the action and said Washington has no right to restrict trade with Cuba. Political Prisoner: Alexander Díaz Rodríguez, a former July 11 protester living with cancer, was reportedly detained again as supporters seek a U.S. humanitarian visa for his treatment. Energy Crisis: Díaz-Canel praised Cuba’s solar expansion but acknowledged the energy transition remains incomplete; blackouts continue despite more than 1,000 megawatts of solar capacity added in 2025. Public Health: An international observatory estimates Cuba has recorded 11,235 dengue cases this year—more than nine times the recent average—while the government has not published updated national figures. U.S.-Cuba Relations: Officials say communication channels remain open, but there are no formal negotiations. Medical Missions: Jamaica has brought 157 Cuban health workers back into its public system under individual contracts, bypassing Havana’s usual role in arranging overseas missions.

U.S.-Cuba Tensions: U.S. authorities seized or detained 90 biodiesel shipments worth $2.8 million at ports in Florida and Texas, saying they were bound for Cuban state fuel company ENETEC. Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez denounced the restrictions, saying Washington has no right to dictate who trades with Cuba or stop ships on the high seas. Military Threats: Rodríguez also cited a poll finding only 17% of Americans support using military force against Cuba, while 58% oppose it. Aid and Civil Society: The U.S. diplomatic mission met with Cuba’s new Masonic leader to discuss involving Freemasons in distributing U.S. humanitarian aid. The meeting comes amid tensions over the role of independent groups and a recent protest during the mission chief’s visit to activist Anna Bensi. Economic Changes: Cuba’s agriculture minister says new rules will give cooperatives more autonomy and flexibility to sell produce, while residents have criticized new state neighborhood markets for prices far beyond local wages.**

U.S.–Cuba Tensions: Washington says it seized more than 600,000 gallons of biodiesel bound for Cuban state firm ENETEC, citing sanctions. Havana calls the seizures and pressure on fuel suppliers illegal collective punishment. The two governments maintain contact by phone and WhatsApp, but say there are no formal negotiations. Energy Crisis: Near-constant blackouts are testing Havana’s arts scene; members of one theater company keep performing by rechargeable lights despite exhaustion and transport shortages. Economic Strain: Cuba plans to keep just 1,913 of more than 12,000 ration stores, with some converted to neighborhood markets run by state or private operators. Separately, a report says one in four Cuban workers has an informal job, as pensions and wages fail to cover basic needs. Political Messaging: Raúl Castro again cast national unity and independence as top priorities, in a message to a military medical university.

Fuel Crackdown: U.S. agencies say they intercepted 90 biodiesel shipments worth about $2.8 million and bound for ENETEC, a sanctioned Cuban state fuel company. Exporters are under investigation, but no charges have been announced. Havana-Washington: Cuba describes its contacts with Washington as communication channels, not negotiations; U.S. officials say talks are continuing. Havana says it will not discuss changing Cuba’s political system. Energy and Aid: U.S. solar exports to Cuba have surged this year as blackouts persist. Separately, 700 U.S.-funded food and hygiene kits arrived for distribution to vulnerable families through the Catholic Church and Caritas. Immigration Rules: A new law taking effect November 1 sets 11 grounds for preventing people from leaving Cuba and explicitly allows authorities to block Cuban citizens from returning. Church Statement: Cuba’s Episcopal Church expressed solidarity with activist Anna Bensi and highlighted worsening shortages, blackouts and inequality.

Cuba–U.S. Talks Stalled: Cuba’s charge d’affaires in Washington says the two countries keep “channels of communication” but have not resumed formal negotiations, insisting any dialogue must respect sovereignty and independence while Cuba prepares for possible U.S. military pressure. U.S. Election Integrity: A Cuban-born lawful permanent resident in Missouri, Andres Garcia, was arrested and charged with illegally voting in federal elections in 2022 and 2024, with prosecutors alleging he voted in at least 15 elections over two decades despite not being a U.S. citizen. U.S. Denaturalization Push: The DOJ filed denaturalization cases targeting 40 people from 20+ countries, including two Nigerians, in what it calls the largest single set of citizenship revocations in modern history. Cuban Daily Life Under Strain: A video from Havana’s Plaza Carlos III shows the once-busy shopping center nearly empty, with shelves bare even in dollar/MLC areas—another sign of worsening availability and consumer hardship. Regional Memory & Politics: Holguín marked the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Cubana Flight 455 bombing, with Barbados renewing calls to end the Cuba embargo and oppose “double standards.”

U.S.-Cuba diplomacy stalls: A new report says Washington-Havana talks routed through “The Crab” are stuck because the U.S. is demanding Miguel Díaz-Canel’s removal before any deal moves forward. Cuban economic governance: Díaz-Canel’s “From the Presidency” podcast returns to push Cuba’s 176 economic and social transformations, framed as urgent and under “war” conditions. Customs rules for Cubans abroad: Cuba’s Official Gazette adds a way for individuals to clear commercial goods through non-commercial channels, with progressive USD tariffs and fees. Immigration status anxiety: A guide explains Cuba’s new “effective migratory residence” rules starting Nov. 1, stressing that losing residency abroad doesn’t automatically mean losing property. Medical mission shift in Uruguay: Uruguay will pay 20 Cuban ophthalmologists directly instead of routing money through Cuba’s brigade structure, after U.S. scrutiny of medical-mission payments. Human rights vote: Cuba abstained as the UN Human Rights Council renewed for two years a Venezuela crimes fact-finding mission. Energy and industry: Camagüey’s Nuevitas thermoelectric plant highlights innovators’ day work, while Cuba braces for blackout gaps amid fuel and power strain. Retiree backlash: Trofin creator Raúl González Hernández’s daughter denounces Díaz-Canel over retirees’ survival on tiny pensions.

US-Cuba Diplomacy: Cuba’s chargé d’affaires in Washington, Lianys Torres Rivera, says the two countries keep “channels of communication” but are not in formal negotiations, while Havana says it’s “not naive” about Trump threats and has boosted defense preparations. Energy & Sanctions Pressure: Multiple reports this week highlight US Coast Guard fuel seizures bound for Cuba, underscoring how enforcement and sanctions pressure are colliding with the island’s energy strain. Cuban Legal & Rights Fallout: A Spanish court again rejected a Cuban family’s asylum bid, saying Cuba’s political system alone isn’t enough—applicants must show specific, imminent danger. State Security & Dissent: 14ymedio reports a young man linked to the Anna Bensi case was summoned and interrogated in Artemisa, with family and supporters describing the process as part of the same crackdown pattern. Humanitarian Context: The UN Human Rights Council extended Sudan’s fact-finding mission, with Cuba among the countries voting against—another reminder of Cuba’s diplomatic alignment in multilateral forums. Cuba’s Domestic Strain: A Matanzas primary school has been without electricity for over 23 days, disrupting classes and exposing infrastructure failures.

US-Cuba Diplomacy: Cuba’s top diplomat in Washington says the two countries are keeping “channels of communication” but have no formal negotiations, while Havana boosts preparations against possible US military action. US Domestic Politics: The Justice Department charged 20 noncitizens with alleged voter fraud in 2024, including a Cuban lawful permanent resident accused of illegal voting. US Pressure on Cuba’s Power Structure: Marco Rubio told Fox News he wants Cuba’s security and military leadership to “open their eyes” to the reality they face, signaling pressure aimed at the regime’s coercive apparatus. Cuban Court Fallout: A Havana court convicted Christian content creator Anna Bensi and her mother, and activists say the case reflects a broader crackdown on privacy and recording state agents. Energy & Daily Life: Informal currency trading in Cuba shows the dollar down to about 773 CUP and the euro around 875 CUP, as shortages and costs remain a political issue. Humanitarian & Solidarity: An Italian NGO says it’s expanding support for Cuba’s energy needs via photovoltaic projects, framing it as a way around US credit and equipment limits.

U.S.-Cuba Immigration & Courts: The Supreme Court opens its term with two major cases affecting Cubans—deportations to third countries without ties and immigration detention without automatic bail access. Cuban Domestic Politics & Participation: Party Secretary Roberto Morales Ojeda doubled down on the state’s “popular participation” line tied to the 176 economic and social transformations, arguing social justice must be built through institutions. Protest & Repression: Pentecostal pastor Ariel Limias Leiva remains incommunicado at Villa Marista after a Capitol protest sign, with family reporting no access to charges. Energy & Everyday Governance: In Mayarí’s Levisa, women blocked a bridge to demand electricity; power was restored and rice distributed—an unusual case where protest pressure produced immediate concessions. Private Sector Visibility: Fuel marketer A Granel began sponsoring Havana’s Industriales, signaling deeper private-company branding in Cuban sports. Regional Politics Watch: Brazil’s first-round vote sets up a tight runoff: Flávio Bolsonaro leads Lula, while the broader rightward shift reshapes Latin America’s political map. International Health Claims: Canadian diplomats suing Ottawa say their children still suffer Havana Syndrome symptoms, alleging Canada downplayed the issue.

U.S.-Cuba Fuel Smuggling Crackdown: The U.S. Coast Guard says it intercepted a Cuba-bound vessel in international waters in early September, then escorted it to Mexico for inspection, alleging “large quantities” of fuel and “dark fleet” tactics. Sanctions and Food Security: Cuba’s ambassador to India proposes joint food production—offering land to Indian firms to grow rice, beans and sugarcane—as Cuba faces a severe food security squeeze amid tighter U.S. measures. Legal and Rights Pressure in Cuba: A Havana court convicted Christian content creator Anna Bensi and her mother, sentencing them to two years of “restriction of liberty” for filming a state security agent, while church-linked solidarity efforts continue. Local Governance and Economic Reform: In Las Tunas, legislators toured implementation of Cuba’s 2026 economic and social transformations, with emphasis on land and cooperative legal tools and faster agricultural contracting/marketing. Diplomatic Signals: Cuba’s deputy foreign minister warns it would be “naive” to ignore U.S. talk of possible aggression, citing recurring sanctions and lack of progress in high-level contacts. Travel Rules Watch: ETIAS is set to cost 20 euros for visa-free short stays in Europe, with Cubans affected mainly when using a second passport from a visa-exempt country. Community and Culture: Puerto Padre will host the Cuba-Mexico Shotokan Karate-Do Grand Cup, while Las Tunas continues youth literary and historical commemorations.

Fuel Crisis & Policing: Cuban authorities in Regla seized 680 liters of gasoline in 28 containers during an anti-fuel-theft operation, as the island’s worst fuel shortages in decades continue. Human Rights at the UN: Cuba ranks among the top countries for urgent action requests over enforced disappearances, with 217 cases since 2012 and 17 in 2026 so far. Repression & Culture: The Cuban Filmmakers’ Assembly defended Anna Bensi and her mother after a Havana court sentenced them for posting a MININT agent’s video, calling it criminalization of filming “the pain” of the country. Religious Politics: Historian Alina Bárbara López Hernández warns that Cuba’s churches could become a political force if believers rally around persecuted people and anti-injustice action. Everyday Hardship: Havana residents share the rising cost of basics, with one onion priced at 610 CUP sparking outrage over how much it eats into monthly wages. Migration Pressure: The U.S. Embassy in Havana renewed deterrence messaging against irregular crossings, while Cubans online say legal routes are blocked and families feel trapped. Water & Power Coordination: Cienfuegos adjusts water schedules to match electricity rotation, aiming to reduce complaints when services don’t overlap.

Fuel Smuggling & Cuba’s Energy Crisis: The U.S. Coast Guard intercepted the Cuba-bound M/V Grace, finding large quantities of fuel hidden in ballast tanks after a multi-agency operation and Mexican Navy inspection—adding to doubts about Havana’s claims that fuel deliveries have effectively stopped. Human Rights Under Pressure: Cuban jurist René Fidel González García condemned the arrest and incommunicado detention of Ariel Limias Leyva, who protested at Havana’s Capitol with a banner calling for an end to political discrimination. Anna Bensi Case: Church leaders and Christian Solidarity Worldwide backed Anna Sofía Benítez Silvente (“Anna Bensi”) and her mother after a Cuban court sentenced them to two years of restricted freedom over social media recordings involving State Security. Guantánamo & U.S. Military Posture: SOUTHCOM highlighted new autonomous-warfare training support at Guantánamo and reiterated rapid-response readiness—moves that underscore how Cuba remains central to U.S. planning. UN Humanitarian Aid: The UN released $160 million from its emergency fund, including allocations for Cuba amid worsening shortages.