AGP Executive Report

Cuba–U.S. Energy Deal Fallout: A report says Trump’s administration proposed an energy agreement with Cuba—US investment for Cuba’s grid and steady US oil—but it collapsed amid Cuban hesitation and Miami politics. Human Rights Diplomacy: Cuba scored a resounding win at the UN Human Rights Council over the impact of the US blockade, with broad support calling it illegal and harmful. BRICS Summit in New Delhi: Leaders are arriving for the 18th BRICS Summit as Iran pushes wider use of national currencies and Putin pitches an NDB-backed investment platform; India also signals agenda focus on trade, energy, AI, and payments. Cuban Economic Reforms: Cuba is evaluating 36 non-state models to manage community pharmacies under Decree 160, while new agriculture rules expand usufruct and cooperative powers for food sovereignty. Public Order in Cuba: Las Tunas authorities are cracking down on road misconduct, including noisy modified scooters and helmet/license violations, with impoundments and fees. Immigration Pressure on Cubans: A Cuban pianist, Andy García Palacios, was released on bail after ICE detention, with his status tied to expired authorization and pending asylum. Civil Society/State Symbols: The CDR announced September activities under “From the Neighborhood with Fidel,” emphasizing youth participation while keeping Castro at the center.

Cuba’s Water Crisis: In Havana, residents are increasingly relying on tanker-and-dispenser deliveries as blackouts and pipe breakdowns keep water from reaching homes normally; the price to fill a 1,000-liter tank can run 10,000–15,000 pesos, while some private fill-ups at Cerro’s points are free but require waiting in long lines. Cuba–U.S. Energy Deal Fallout: A report says Cuban American politicians derailed a reported Trump-Castro fuel-for-control agreement tied to Cupet, with Cuba later approving a U.S.-linked path to replace Canada’s Sherritt stake in nickel mining. Cuba’s Economic Opening: Cuba is moving to regulate and expand private enterprise and market reforms, including easing rules for foreign-currency accounts for private businesses and incorporating larger private firms into its legal framework. BRICS Summit 2026 (Global Context): As New Delhi hosts BRICS, leaders including Modi, Putin, Xi, and Pezeshkian push agendas on resilience, food/energy security, and local-currency trade—an external backdrop to Cuba’s search for financing and market access. 9/11 Anniversary: Coverage marks 25 years since the attacks, including renewed focus on delayed justice for the alleged mastermind held at Guantánamo.

U.S.-Cuba Tensions: Cuba’s foreign minister Bruno Rodríguez denounced Washington’s “genocidal blockade” and “economic strangulation,” saying UN bodies rejected the U.S. stance and urging the UN Human Rights Council to monitor U.S. compliance. Energy Deal Fallout: Reports say a secret Trump-era US-Cuba energy deal collapsed after political demands met resistance in Miami, including pressure tied to privatizing CUPET and shifting control over Cuba’s fuel system. Diplomatic Freeze: Rodríguez also said there are no current talks with the U.S., after earlier signals of negotiations amid escalating sanctions and threats. Agriculture Overhaul: Cuba published new regulations to boost food production under Law 185, expanding usufruct access for individuals and legal entities, removing a direct manual-labor requirement, and recognizing rights over improvements. BRICS Spotlight (Cuba as Partner): As India hosts the BRICS summit in New Delhi, Cuba is listed among partner countries, while summit plans include incubator, startup, and logistics cooperation frameworks—set to be fine-tuned by leaders on Sept. 12-13. Florida Politics Echoes Cuba: In U.S. politics, Sen. Ted Cruz used his Cuban family history of imprisonment under communism to argue against Democrats and communism, while Florida’s new anti-communism curriculum expands statewide.

Cuba Crisis & Mental Health: A new report from Havana describes how water and power shortages, fuel scarcity, weak transport, and daily economic strain are pushing many Cubans to the breaking point, with doctors increasingly acting as de facto counselors as hope fades under the continuing U.S. energy embargo. Private Sector Health Rules: Cuba’s health ministry says private pharmaceutical activity is still not fully operational: no private pharmacy model has started yet, while 36 pharmaceutical projects are under review and officials outline what drugs remain restricted. Repression in Las Tunas: Eight dissidents from Las Tunas received seven- and eight-year prison sentences for “propaganda against the constitutional order,” after more than two years in provisional detention. Human Rights Spotlight: Freedom House launched its Ambassadors for Freedom program, naming Cuban pro-democracy leader Carolina Barrero among inaugural advocates. Regional Diplomacy & Cuba’s Place: As BRICS meets in New Delhi, Cuba is listed as a BRICS partner country, underscoring Havana’s continued search for political and economic space amid U.S. pressure.

Cuba–U.S. Sanctions: Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez told the UN Human Rights Council that the international community is again demanding an end to the U.S. embargo and the energy embargo harming Cuban families, framing the latest pressure as a human-rights violation. Cuba–U.S. Escalation: Díaz-Canel also reacted to Trump’s AI-generated annexation-style map, saying Cuba will “never again” be a colony and will defend sovereignty “to the last consequences,” while Rodríguez mocked the U.S. for “geographically disoriented” citizens. Cuban Domestic Governance: Cuba’s Council of Ministers updated rules for agricultural and forestry product marketing, shifting how contracting, pricing by agreement, and provincial/municipal roles work under the new framework. Private Sector Legal Update: Cuba formally incorporated private companies with more than 100 workers into its legal framework via revised Decree-Law 88, expanding business categories and granting legal personality. Energy Crisis Protest: Havana detained a young veterinarian from Fontanar after a peaceful protest over blackouts and lack of water, with reports of beatings during repression. Human Impact: A new report highlights the psychological toll of Cuba’s multiple crises as shortages and blackouts push many people toward breaking point. Diplomatic Ripples: Nicaragua ordered closure of its embassy in the Dominican Republic amid a widening diplomatic crisis.

Cuba-U.S. Energy Clash: Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez denounced new U.S. restrictions on fuel imports for Cuba’s power generation, saying the blockade blocks generators’ fuel and even complicates solar and battery purchases, while Cuba plans a UN General Assembly report on the damage. Water Crisis, Havana: President Miguel Díaz-Canel inspected the “El Gato” water system in Mayabeque, outlining leak fixes, pumping upgrades, and a two-phase plan that includes shifting toward renewable energy to prevent blackouts from derailing service. Trump Map Fallout: Díaz-Canel vowed Cuba would never be a colony again after Trump’s Truth Social map depicted Cuba under the U.S. flag; Rodríguez mocked the U.S. for allegedly confusing even its own citizens. Cuba in Diplomatic/Trade Moves: Kuwait and Cuba began talks on a double taxation agreement, aiming to align the deal with both countries’ laws and strengthen trade ties. Regional Security Focus: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio kicked off a Latin America tour to deepen security cooperation with Colombia and others, explicitly linking the agenda to migration, drugs, and pressure on Communist-led Cuba. Human Rights Pressure Point: Reports from Equatorial Guinea describe police pulling guns on migrants deported from the U.S., raising fresh concerns about medical care, legal access, and psychological distress for people sent under third-country arrangements.

Cuba–U.S. Pressure & Sovereignty: President Miguel Díaz-Canel doubled down on defiance, saying Cuba “will never again be a colony” and will defend sovereignty “to the last consequences,” as Washington’s rhetoric and sanctions intensify. U.S. Sanctions Impact: Cuba’s foreign minister Bruno Rodríguez called the blockade “collective punishment,” arguing it targets daily life—fuel limits keep blackouts going and worsen shortages. Cuba’s Military-Economic Model: A Miami event at Florida International University will spotlight GAESA’s reach, with new research claiming it controls a large share of the economy and operates beyond public oversight. Political Prisoners & Activism: Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara met senior U.S. officials to press the case for political prisoners and denounce repression; the State Department again demanded releases. Human Rights & Justice: An independent Cuban gender observatory reported the beating death of 17-year-old Camila González by her 29-year-old partner, citing institutional failures in protection of minors. Cuban Intelligence Case: A Miami Herald investigation says Fernando Valdés infiltrated Miami exile circles for years and became a trusted figure to Luis Posada Carriles. Regional U.S. Push: Secretary of State Marco Rubio began a Latin America tour in Colombia, pitching security cooperation against drug trafficking and aiming to lock in trade deals with aligned governments. Migration Safety Abroad: Reuters reported Equatorial Guinea police pulled guns on U.S.-deported migrants, raising alarms about treatment and legal access.

Cuba-U.S. Sanctions: Cuba’s foreign minister Bruno Rodríguez says Washington’s stepped-up embargo caused record losses of $8.083 billion from March 2025 to February 2026, calling it “collective punishment” tied to Cuba’s power and healthcare breakdowns. Cuba-U.S. Diplomacy: Cuba also insists there are no ongoing talks with the United States and no agenda for future negotiations, even as the UN General Assembly prepares to debate the island’s embargo demand. Energy & Daily Life: With electricity often limited to a few hours a day, Cubans are adapting fast—homemade phone signal antennas, coal cooking, and solar-backed services—while tourism arrivals reportedly plunge. Human Rights & Justice: A Cuban legal expert warns that femicide statistics reflect delays in judicial processes, not the true pace of violence, as another case raises the year’s documented total. Security & Rumors: New reporting highlights how rumors around Raúl Castro’s health spread amid official silence, while Guantánamo continues to sit at the center of long-stalled 9/11-related proceedings. Regional Politics (BRICS): India’s BRICS chairship ramps up for the Sept. 12-13 summit in New Delhi, with leaders including Putin and Xi expected, as the bloc leans into resilience, innovation, cooperation, and sustainability. U.S. Domestic Politics (DSA): A former DSA insider warns that far-left politics are importing extremist-style sectarianism into U.S. campaigns, targeting Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed. Latin America (U.S. Influence): U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio begins a tour to back right-leaning governments in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru after recent election wins.

Cuba-U.S. Talks Freeze: Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez said Havana is not negotiating with Washington and has “no agenda” for future talks, while insisting Cuba will keep “contacts” despite a “genocidal” blockade. Blockade Cost Update: Cuba’s latest damage report pegs losses at about $8.1B for March 2025–Feb 2026 (up 7%), warning the energy squeeze could worsen in early 2026; cumulative damages now exceed $178.7B. Humanitarian Pressure: A new human-rights survey says 94% of Cubans live in extreme poverty and 8 in 10 skipped meals, with power outages and food shortages topping urgent concerns. Health Worker Migration: Cuban medical staff lined up at the Ministry of Health to register for electronic IDs after Guyana ended bilateral cooperation, allowing independent applications to work in Guyana’s system. Domestic Hardship Signals: The government’s blockade/energy framing is paired with reports of daily-life disruption—rolling blackouts, spoiled food, and education and connectivity strain. International Echoes: Separately, Trump’s latest “U.S. flag” map provoked backlash, including imagery that places Cuba under U.S. sovereignty.

Raúl Castro Returns to TV: Former Cuban president Raúl Castro, 95, reappeared on state television after weeks out of public view, shown in uniform congratulating a unit tied to protecting Cuba’s leadership—amid intensifying economic strain and U.S. pressure. Power Crisis and the “Luxury Divide”: A new report paints a widening gap: some Havana businesses light up with solar during blackouts while most residents face prolonged cuts, shortages, and daily work under darkness. SANDU Demands Cuba Probe: South Africa’s defense union SANDU called for an immediate independent inquiry into allegations that SANDF officers in Cuba were pressured to make “voluntary” cash contributions from their allowances to help Cubans. Independent Voices Under Pressure: Cuban poet Juan Carlos García Guridi urged justice for journalist José Gabriel Barrenechea after Cuba’s top court upheld his six-year sentence, following arrests tied to an electricity protest. Havana Water/Comms Outage Anger: A writer in Diez de Octubre described more than a week without water, near-minimal electricity, and near-total communication breakdown with relatives abroad. Market Signals: Informal currency trading closed with the dollar steady and the euro slightly weaker, reflecting ongoing structural shortages.

Raúl Castro’s Public Return: Raúl Castro, 95, reappeared at a Havana military ceremony marking the 65th anniversary of the Personal Security Directorate (MININT), alongside Díaz-Canel; state TV aired him clapping and reading a letter via the Interior Minister, undercutting fresh health rumors and keeping attention on the regime’s security apparatus. MININT & Succession Signals: A Cuban jurist argues the event also served to elevate Castro’s grandson, “el Cangrejo,” suggesting tighter control over how much the elder speaks publicly while the next security figure gains prominence. Havana Blackouts Spark Protest: In Fontanar, residents staged cacerolazos and blocked a major avenue over power cuts lasting 20+ hours and broader living conditions; police moved in with patrol cars and arrests reported. Improvised Water Logistics: With water and power failures worsening, Havana residents are adapting old trucks into improvised water tankers, highlighting the capital’s supply breakdown. Gender Violence Update: The Alas Tensas Gender Observatory confirmed two more femicides, pushing 2026 to 50 cases—one above the prior year total. U.S.-Cuba Migration & Sanctions Pressure: Coverage also points to intensified U.S. sanctions and a new “third-country” deportation arrangement involving Cuba and Afghanistan, with Guyana receiving a small vetted group via IOM. Personal Security & U.S. Legal Fallout: Separate reporting alleges false information in a U.S. visa/residency process tied to Alejandro Castro Espín’s family circle, raising potential federal exposure.

Raúl Castro’s Return to Public View: Cuba’s former leader reappeared alongside Díaz-Canel at a MININT Personal Security Directorate ceremony marking 65 years, after weeks of rumors about his health, underscoring how tightly the regime manages succession optics. Defense vs. Daily Life: Díaz-Canel led National Defense Day in Havana while residents mocked the contradiction of mobilized resources amid chronic power cuts, with online backlash focused on “electricity for that.” Water and Power Strain in Havana: Residents in Diez de Octubre protested a planned water connection to a military facility as they still rely on water trucks; separately, the PCC in Pinar del Río admitted recurring water complaints tied to equipment and electricity shortages. Public Health Warning: The U.S. embassy issued a health alert citing rising diarrheal illness linked to Cuba’s failing water and electricity infrastructure, warning about food storage and temperature control. Solid Waste Push, Limits Admitted: Havana received Chinese-funded trucks and containers for waste collection, but officials conceded it won’t be a “definitive solution,” with production slowed by energy contingencies. Repression Through Courts: A father and son received forced-labor sentences for “propaganda against the constitutional order,” with the son’s conviction tied to alleged failure to report. U.S.-Linked Migration Fallout: Guyana began receiving vetted third-country deportees from the U.S., including Cubans, under a temporary IOM-assisted arrangement.

U.S.-Cuba Political Pressure: A Florida Democratic candidate is calling for Díaz-Canel to be charged and arrested, tying the push to U.S. DOJ cases over Brothers to the Rescue and arguing accountability won’t automatically free Cuba. Water Crisis in Havana: Díaz-Canel set a late-September deadline to show results in “two or three” Havana supply systems, with October consolidation and renewable-energy-backed solutions by year’s end—an unusually concrete test after years of broken schedules. Energy & State Media Reality Check: A pro-government Matanzas reporter celebrated the Antonio Guiteras plant staying online for 30 days, while critics point to frequent outages and long-delayed maintenance. Migration & “Third-Country” Deportations: Guyana received the first group of vetted Cuban and Afghan deportees from the U.S. under a temporary one-year framework, with IOM handling assisted voluntary return and Guyana retaining discretion. Human Rights & Repression Narratives: A Cuban activist says a 10th-grade Political Culture textbook labels July 11, 2021 protests as “fake news,” using “bulo” and “FAKE NEWS” framing to justify repression. Social Strain & Daily Life: Las Tunas restricted garage sales to weekends while fees are still pending; and in Granma, officials report “joy in the schools” despite fuel shortages disrupting supplies. Youth Exodus Mood: A viral sketch captures young Cubans’ dilemma—emigrate or face violence—backed by ONEI data showing heavy net migration of people under 35.

US-Cuba Sanctions Escalate: Washington added Fidel Ernesto Castro Calis, Banco Exterior de Cuba, and key oil and mining firms (including ABAPET) to sanctions, aiming to cripple power-grid maintenance as blackouts worsen; Cuban FM Bruno Rodríguez called it “collective punishment.” Energy Crisis, Humanitarian Fallout: A US embassy health alert warned of rising diarrheal illness tied to failing water and electricity, while Cuban officials say the blockade and fuel shortages are driving the breakdown. Cuban State Media Under Pressure: The PCC appointed a new director at Santiago de Cuba’s Sierra Maestra amid a wider crisis in state-run media output. Foreign Policy and Culture Diplomacy: Díaz-Canel praised UNESCO’s Africa and foreign relations deputy visit as Cuba defended education and culture amid the “blockade” and energy blockade. ICE and Cuban Detainees: A judge authorized force-feeding a Cuban hunger striker in a Texas ICE facility, renewing alarms over detainee mistreatment. Repression at Home: Independent journalist Yunia Figueredo reported State Security pressure tied to her daughter’s university enrollment, including monthly police reporting requirements. Everyday Survival Stories: Camagüey residents shared anger over price hikes and a viral case of two girls selling sweets to feed their mother as shortages bite.

Cuba Economic Opening: Cuba authorized private travel agencies and eased rules for tourist transportation, signaling further non-state participation in tourism and services. Foreign Investment Rules: The Council of Ministers published updated regulations for foreign investment approvals and oversight, laying out procedures, timelines, and the evaluation commission under MINCEX. Energy Crisis & Infrastructure: Cuba inspected construction of a 50-megawatt battery energy storage park in Cueto to stabilize the grid and support solar expansion, as the country continues to face severe power constraints. U.S. Pressure on Cuba’s Elites: Multiple reports describe new U.S. sanctions targeting Cuba’s ruling circle, including Raúl Castro’s grandson and related entities, amid claims Cuba is facing a “war without bombs.” Havana’s Humanitarian Push: The Cuba Vive Appeal says it raised £555,000 in Britain to ship medical supplies and emergency aid to Cuba, tying the need directly to the U.S. blockade. Security & Enforcement in Florida: ICE arrested and deported a Cuban man identified as a spy for the Cuban regime in Miami, while separate cases involving Cuban detainees and alleged abuse at an Everglades detention site remain pending.

US Sanctions Escalation: The Trump administration hit Cuba again with new sanctions targeting Fidel Ernesto Castro Calis (Raúl Castro’s grandson) and key state-linked firms, including Banco Exterior de Cuba and Abapet, an oil-supply company tied to keeping the power grid running—moves Washington says are meant to “tighten the screws” as blackouts and fuel shortages worsen. Energy Crisis Pressure: Sanctions are explicitly framed as a way to disrupt maintenance and spare parts for Cuba’s aging electricity system, with analysts warning Cuba will try to “get creative,” raising costs and inflation. Diplomatic Backlash: Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez condemned the measures as “collective punishment” and accused Marco Rubio of lying, while Washington doubled down on claims that regime elites enrich themselves as ordinary Cubans suffer. Education Under Strain: Despite prolonged outages and shortages, Miguel Díaz-Canel defended the start of the 2026–2027 university year as “the most revolutionary thing,” even as universities shift to hybrid formats and teachers face deteriorating conditions. Human Impact, Not Just Policy: A mother’s account of the school-year scramble—uniforms, eggs, and last-minute basics—captures how the crisis lands at home, not in press releases. Immigration Courts in the US: A Cuban asylum case saw a judge approve bail for Félix Abreu Medina after months in ICE custody, while other reports highlight the broader strain of US detention and deportation practices affecting Cubans.