AGP Executive Report

Energy Crisis: Cuba’s National Electric System is bracing for another brutal day, with a forecast deficit of 2,280 MW this Thursday and supply far below peak demand—meaning widespread blackouts. Parliament & Reforms: In the same period, Cuba’s energy minister admitted some communities have endured up to 105 straight days without electricity, as lawmakers push a sweeping 176-reform package that includes private banking and new openings for business. Healthcare Under Strain: A Cuban doctor says the system is being forced into “rationing” care, with preventive services suspended and patients arriving worse off, as shortages and deaths rise. Private Sector Loosening: Cuba eased restrictions on private vendors and imports, including allowing more goods and medicines through private pharmacies—moves aimed at easing shortages amid the fuel and electricity collapse. Opposition Hunger Strike: Guillermo del Sol Pérez has surpassed 40 days on hunger strike in Santa Clara, with his health described as critical and his life at risk. US-Cuba Claims: A U.S. media narrative about a “Russian spy base” in Cuba is challenged, with reporting suggesting it was actually a school. Sports & Culture: Cuba’s volleyball team fell short in Santo Domingo 2026, while Cuban doctors and artists continue to speak out amid the blackout reality.

Tourism Collapse: Cuba’s Prime Minister Manuel Marrero says nearly 3/4 of hotels are shut, with tourism in “almost total paralysis” as US sanctions, fuel shortages, and a 58% drop in international arrivals (Jan–Jun 2026) crush the sector; he adds that seven major foreign hotel chains have left, leaving about 25,000 workers vulnerable. Energy Crisis in Santiago de Cuba: A fire at the Santiago Este substation forced an emergency shutdown across four circuits, hitting residents as the city already faces prolonged outages and mounting reports. Private-Sector Loosening: Cuba is easing rules for private businesses and imports, removing 46 of 125 restricted activities and opening new space for micro, small and medium firms—while officials insist it’s not privatization. Humanitarian Pressure: Cuba says US sanctions have blocked or delayed over 7,000 legally purchased cargo containers carrying food, energy-grid supplies, water production inputs, and medicines. Healthcare Pay Backlash: A Cuban doctor denounced new salary increases as a “global embarrassment,” saying the raise amounts to about $10/month at current informal exchange rates. Sports Update: Cuba remains in a tight fight for third place in the Santo Domingo 2026 medal table after adding multiple silver medals in rowing and more events scheduled for today.

Water Crisis in Matanzas: Residents along Vía Blanca say they’re forced to buy water from private tanker trucks as power and supply remain unreliable, leaving families rationing cooking, bathing, and cleaning. Private Sector Expansion (Limits Kept): Cuba’s new rules expand what private businesses can do—especially in transport, pharma services, and parts of energy—while education, health practice, and media stay off-limits. Electric Union Clarifies Havana Bay Rumors: The UNE says a vessel entering Havana Bay is for maintenance at Asticar, not to generate electricity, underscoring the fuel shortage behind blackouts. U.S.-Cuba Tensions: Cuba’s foreign minister blames Washington for worsening the crisis and warns Havana will defend itself “even with arms” if attacked, while also rejecting U.S. “peace through strength” rhetoric. Diplomacy Rift in Colombia: A former FARC peace negotiator calls Colombia’s plan to sever ties with Cuba a mistake, saying Havana was essential to the talks. Culture & Media: Filming wraps on the telenovela Mujeres de café, which will include a transgender character in a main plot for the first time. Sports: Cuba holds third place in Santo Domingo 2026’s medal table, with Marlies Mejías adding another medal.

Rubio’s Cuba Obsession: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is framed as the personal architect of Trump’s “maximum pressure” Cuba policy, with critics saying the approach is built on legacy politics rather than diplomacy. Nicaragua Dictatorship Backdrop: Commentary and analysis point to Daniel Ortega’s move to end elections as the region’s warning sign for “democratic hemisphere” rhetoric. Cuba Under Pressure at Home: 14ymedio reports Havana residents evicted weeks ago are still sleeping outside after building-collapse fears, with authorities offering no alternative. Human Rights Alarm: A 13-year-old detained after protests in Santiago de las Vegas is denounced by independent groups and his mother over alleged beatings in custody. Economy & Daily Life: Cuba’s informal currency market shows the dollar steady at 673 CUP while the euro slips; meanwhile, the state says it’s easing private-sector rules via Decree 160. Aid Efforts: Tampa Bay groups are sending solar panels, food, and medicine to Cuba amid ongoing blackouts and shortages. Colombia Breaks With Havana: Cuba condemns Colombia’s president-elect plan to sever ties, calling it aligned with U.S.-backed confrontation.

Cuba’s energy squeeze: Cuba is bracing for another round of rolling blackouts Tuesday, with the UNE projecting cuts affecting nearly 68% of the island as demand peaks at night while key thermal units stay down or under maintenance. Cuban sports amid departures: At Santo Domingo 2026, Cuban rower Leah Daniela Almeida left the delegation after winning bronze, and Díaz-Canel’s posts notably omitted her and another early medalist; separately, wrestler Luis Orta and boxer Erislandy Álvarez were withdrawn for health reasons. Diplomacy and pressure on Cuba: A new U.S. State Department report attacks Cuba-linked solidarity networks, naming the Cuba Solidarity Campaign and Jeremy Corbyn, while Washington also escalates its anti-left rhetoric. Regional ripple effects: Peru’s Keiko Fujimori was sworn in, promising tougher crime control with emergency powers for the armed forces, and Colombia’s incoming government says it will close 14 embassies and sever ties with Cuba and Nicaragua as part of an austerity overhaul. Humanitarian note: Cuba’s rescue and medical teams returned from Venezuela after the double earthquake. Court spotlight: A Havana shooting suspect appeared in court, with the case postponed for a formal bail application.

Cuba–U.S. Tensions: President Miguel Díaz-Canel warned the Trump administration is trying to “take control” of Cuba, calling U.S. pressure “political genocide” amid tighter sanctions and energy restrictions. Energy Crisis in Havana: Old Havana shook with cacerolazos during a blackout as the island faces a projected 2,130 MW deficit and rolling outages tied to grid failures. Protest and Repression Signals: A dissident artist, Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, says Cubans are “desperate for something to happen” after arriving in Miami following five years in prison. Justice After July 11: Kevin Frómeta was released after fully serving his five-year sentence for his role in the 11 July 2021 protests. International Pressure on Cuba: A U.S. State Department report links Cuba to the “radical left” in the U.S., while Washington also plans to spend $175.8 million on undersea cables in the Caribbean and Central America to block China’s influence. Sports and Defections: Cuban rower Leah Daniela Almeida defected from the Santo Domingo delegation shortly after winning bronze.

Cuba-US Tensions: President Miguel Díaz-Canel used the Moncada anniversary in Pinar del Río to accuse the U.S. of “Nazi practices” and “genocidal” sanctions, saying Washington is tightening a “maximum economic strangulation” that targets Cuba’s public health and medical brigades. National Assembly Watch: Cuba’s National Assembly will debate this week the 2026 State Budget execution, the 2025 settlement, and draft laws including agricultural land, housing, central administration organization, identity/domicile, and a new labor code. July 26 Commemoration: National Rebellion Day was marked in Pinar del Río under the slogan “My Moncada is the Homeland,” with Díaz-Canel delivering Raúl Castro’s message and denouncing U.S. “genocide.” Sports & Medals: Cuba is holding second place at Santo Domingo 2026, adding gold in rowing (women’s coxless pair and men’s double sculls) and earlier judo dominance. Regional Diplomacy: OECS praised Cuba’s continued support despite the U.S. embargo as it welcomed Cuba’s new ambassador. Migration/Enforcement: ICE arrested a Cuban permanent resident in Kentucky after a 20-year prison sentence for stabbing his girlfriend, with deportation proceedings underway.

Moncada Anniversary in Pinar del Río: President Miguel Díaz-Canel used the 73rd National Rebellion Day ceremony to accuse the U.S. of trying to “take over” Cuba, calling sanctions “political genocide” and linking them to blackouts and economic paralysis. Raúl Castro Absent, Regime Message Still Loud: Díaz-Canel read Raúl Castro’s July 26 message to Pinar del Río, while online reactions in Cuba and abroad mocked the official tone amid daily shortages. Protest Reality vs. Solidarity Theater: A pro-Cuba march in Mexico City drew backlash after participants vandalized a town hall and Cubans online pointed to the gap between slogans and life without water or electricity. U.S. Pressure Hits Tourism: The Spanish hotel brand Meliá withdrew from Cuba as U.S. sanctions forced Ceiba Investments to unwind management deals tied to state-owned hotels. Electricity Strain and Daily Life: Reports highlighted ongoing power-system stress around July 26 and the informal market’s currency swings, with everyday costs rising. Sports Bright Spots: Cuba kept stacking medals at the Central American and Caribbean Games, including judo golds and rowing wins, as athletes also made headlines beyond the island. Local Safety Watch: A cyclist was seriously injured in a crash on the Varadero–Cárdenas road, underscoring persistent road-risk problems.

Electricity Crisis in Havana: Cuba’s power system is again buckling around July 26, with the UNE warning of a 2,080 MW peak-hour deficit and the Guiteras plant going offline early Sunday due to a leak—another reminder that blackouts are structural, not temporary. Water Shortages Hit Hard: In Havana, a 55-gallon water tank is reportedly selling for up to 2,500 pesos in the informal market, nearly matching the monthly minimum wage, as residents scramble for basic supply. Moncada Anniversary, Same Pressure: At the July 26 rally in Pinar del Río, President Díaz-Canel accused the U.S. of “genocide” and “economic strangulation,” while also rejecting a new State Department narrative about Cuba’s role in U.S. politics. Resistance and Prisoner Updates: Manolín “el Doctor de la Salsa” posted a heartfelt welcome-back message to Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, and a mother announced her son Kevin Damián Frómeta Castro is returning home after completing his 11J sentence. Aid and Church Tensions: A priest in Bejucal defended Caritas-style U.S. aid distribution after graffiti accused the church of mishandling donations.

Electricity Crisis in Havana: State media says Havana is averaging about 25 damaged single-phase transformers per day, with some days topping 60, as blackouts and “load coincidence” overloads keep breaking the grid. Moncada Anniversary Politics: Ahead of July 26, Díaz-Canel called U.S. “maximum pressure” “collective punishment,” blaming sanctions and an oil blockade for trying to provoke unrest, while also citing regime claims on infant mortality and long surgical waits. Citizen Pressure vs. Regime Narrative: Activist Leonardo Romero Negrín said Havana’s second day with power came from organized neighborhood pressure, urging people to keep pot-banging even with electricity. Power Outages Spark Protests: Reports describe police deployments in response to demonstrations tied to water shortages and outages, including pot-banging across Havana and Santiago de Cuba. Humanitarian Aid Arrives: A Zapatista-linked boat delivered solar equipment and medicine, with Open Arms also landing aid for a pediatric hospital. Diplomacy and Sanctions: Cuba’s ambassador to India says Havana is seeking deeper cooperation in health, biotech, renewables, and digital tech as U.S. pressure tightens.

Diplomacy: President Miguel Díaz-Canel swore in 26 new Cuban ambassadors, stressing loyalty to sovereignty and the Revolution as Manuel Marrero and Roberto Morales Ojeda attended. Foreign Pressure: The U.S. State Department released a report accusing Cuba of decades-long influence and espionage in the U.S., naming U.S. left figures and activists; House Democrat Mark Pocan called it a setup for military action. Sanctions & Health: Cuba’s foreign minister denounced fresh U.S. restrictions as “collective punishment,” while Cuba’s health minister told BRICS that the system is collapsing—over 100,000 waiting for surgery and rising infant mortality. Power & Protest: Activists shared photos of Havana neighborhoods getting electricity simultaneously during a pot-banging protest call, while protests continued in Havana and Santiago de Cuba amid outages. Sports: Cyclist Marlies Mejías won Cuba’s first gold at the Santo Domingo Games with a women’s time-trial victory. Commemoration Abroad: Cuba marked July 26 Moncada Day in Sierra Leone and Namibia, highlighting solidarity against the U.S. blockade.

Cuba-US Sanctions Clash: The U.S. State Department released a sweeping new report accusing Cuba of infiltrating the U.S. government and cultivating left-wing activism, while Cuba’s foreign minister called it an attempt to justify aggression and punishment of health care. Power Crisis, Protests: With blackouts worsening, residents staged fresh pot-banging protests in Havana and Santiago de Cuba, and a truck crash knocked out power for 9,000+ customers in Cienfuegos. Food Supply Strain: Stores report refrigerators shut off and shelves empty as the cold chain breaks down; meanwhile, the Dominican Republic resumed egg shipments with a transport subsidy, aiming for 13M eggs a month. Health Under Pressure: Díaz-Canel praised doctors’ “heroism” amid sanctions hitting Cuba’s medical missions and energy, as the regime pushes “progress” on water and defense zones. Sports Defection: A Cuban field hockey goalkeeper defected during the Santo Domingo Games hours before the opening ceremony. UN Human Rights: The UN General Assembly renewed Volker Türk’s mandate despite U.S., Russia, and Israel opposition.

U.S. Sanctions Tighten on Cuba’s Money Lifelines: The State Department announced new sanctions targeting Cuba’s energy sector, medical missions, and related entities, aiming to cut off foreign currency and disrupt two key export pillars. Labor Rules in Cuba: Cuba’s Ministry of Labor says work will pause July 25–27 for most activities, with exceptions for vital services like healthcare, fuel, transport, and essential agriculture. Tax Compliance for Self-Employed: ONAT clarified accounting rules for independent workers, including record-keeping requirements above 500,000 CUP and Spanish, CUP-based documentation. Cuba in U.S. Politics Fight: A new wave of U.S. political pressure is tied to a State Department report alleging Cuba’s long-running influence campaign, drawing backlash from progressive lawmakers who call it McCarthy-style. Cuba Aid via Catholic Channels: Catholic charities and CRS moved first humanitarian flights to Cuba under a U.S. aid plan, even as Washington continues sanctions. Local Development Watch: A Miami forum of Cuban American experts urged private capital to rebuild Cuba’s infrastructure after a democratic transition, focusing on energy, water, and transport.

US-Cuba Diplomacy, No Quick Fix: Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters the US is “realistic and patient,” continuing talks on “changes” Cuba can make—while refusing any timeline for regime change. New US Pressure on Cuba’s Money and Health: The Trump administration rolled out fresh OFAC sanctions aimed at Cuba’s public healthcare, energy, remittances, and ports, targeting key medical and trading entities. Humanitarian Aid Gets Through—Via Catholic Charities: Catholic Relief Services says it sent the first batch of US-funded food and hygiene kits to Cuba under strict church-only distribution rules, as hunger and blackouts worsen. Cuba’s Daily Reality Shrinks: Cuban writers describe life narrowed by unreliable electricity, shortages, and the collapse of any believable “future,” with planning reduced to hours. Fuel Rules Keep Expanding in Practice: A report says imported gasoline for private businesses has spread widely, with sales in dollars and fuel flowing beyond what’s supposed to be allowed. Cuba in the Crosshairs of War Talk: A new report claims US military planners examined options against Cuba, while analysts warn it may be pressure—not proof of imminent action. Cuba and BRICS Health Meeting: Cuba’s health minister denounced the blockade’s impact on the sector ahead of BRICS talks. Cuba-Ukraine Manpower Claims: Estimates suggest up to 20,000 Cubans may have fought for Russia in Ukraine, raising fresh questions about Havana’s role.

Humanitarian Aid to Cuba: The U.S. says its first $60 million tranche is already arriving: Catholic charity Cáritas began distributing U.S. food and hygiene boxes to vulnerable families in Bejucal and Alquízar, near Havana, with 700 packages flown in from Miami and enough supplies for about 10 days per family. U.S.-Cuba Pressure Campaign: The aid lands amid a wider push—Marco Rubio has announced new sanctions tied to Cuba’s tourism, energy, trade, and security sectors, as Washington continues “maximum pressure.” Cuba in the News Cycle: The week also features fresh debate over U.S. claims of Cuban influence abroad and Cuba’s rejection of those allegations as propaganda. Florida Immigration Crackdown: Separate from Cuba, new data shows Florida deportation orders rose 18% since March, with June hitting a national high—another sign of the Trump-era hard line. Press Freedom Fight: House Republicans’ subpoenas of left-leaning groups, including BreakThrough News, are drawing warnings that the crackdown is turning into a new McCarthy-style campaign.

US-Cuba Pressure & Espionage Claims: The State Department released a report alleging decades of Cuban espionage and influence operations inside the United States, renewing debate over Washington’s hardening stance toward Havana. Rubio’s Hard Line: In parallel, Secretary of State Marco Rubio doubled down on threats and “consequences,” framing Cuba as part of a broader “far-left” danger narrative. Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara in Exile: Cuban artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara was released from prison and sent to the US, speaking of a “new kind of rift” created by state-sponsored separation. Humanitarian Aid Under Rubio Plan: Catholic Relief Services and US partners began sending aid flights to Cuba, with funding aimed at reaching hundreds of thousands amid shortages. Cuba’s Market Liberalization: Cuba authorized state enterprises and retail outlets—including restaurants and rationed-market bodegas—to buy raw materials and supplies from the private sector, a move meant to ease shortages and expand offerings. Power Crisis Reality Check: Havana and other areas continue to face blackouts and public anger, while Cuba’s grid and infrastructure efforts struggle to keep up. Migration Exodus: New figures show 245,264 more people left Cuba permanently than returned in 2025, with the population ending the year at 9,434,593.