AGP Executive Report

U.S. Sanctions Escalation: The Trump administration added Cuba’s Ministry of Construction, state firms, and ICAP-linked officials to a new sanctions list, tightening pressure on sectors like construction, mining, metals, transport, and foreign trade. Deportation Fallout: A judge struck down Trump’s immigrant visa suspension for 75 countries, but the administration’s third-country deportation program kept moving—Liberia received a $5M payment to accept up to 1,200 deportees, with reports that some who resisted were flown onward to Equatorial Guinea, including Cuban men. Cuba Under Pressure: Cuba’s ambassador to India said Cubans “will not bow” to U.S. pressure, pointing to an energy transition and a push for more renewables. Local Resilience: In Holguín, ETECSA is installing solar systems to keep telecom services running during fuel shortages. Culture & Community: Puerto Rico’s Cuba solidarity committee condemned the new sanctions and highlighted ongoing aid and delegations, while Holguín singer Lidis Lamorú Febles closed a 33-year children-focused tour. Crisis Commentary: A viral “Cuban Pasapalabra” alphabet sketch turned blackouts, shortages, and youth drug impacts into sharp comedy.

Corruption & Water Crisis in Havana: A Cuban Facebook user, Alexis Torriente, directly confronted Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz over alleged institutionalized corruption and weeks without water in Boyeros’ Mulgoba neighborhood, saying “everyone is hiding” and no one answers. Sanctions Tighten on Cuba: The U.S. announced new sanctions targeting Cuba’s Ministry of Construction, ICAP leaders, and state firms tied to metals and mining, framing them as support for repression. Power, Promises, and Reality: Cubans keep documenting failures of energy plans—charcoal cooking, broken gas programs, and frustration with endless official fixes. False Earthquake Alert Fallout: ETECSA admitted the Aug. 18 “seismic” message was triggered by a technical and human error during telecom tests, after panic and danger for sick and high-rise residents. Local Water Breakdown in Matanzas: Residents in Salamanca and San Gabriel streets reported eight months without water due to an allegedly closed valve, despite repeated complaints and water trucks that don’t deliver. Daily Life Under Strain: Guantánamo retirees faced chaotic bank lines amid liquidity problems, while the informal market showed the dollar steady and the euro down. Education Under Shortages: Cuba says the 2026-27 school year starts Sept. 1, but parents question how children can learn without water, food, or sleep.

U.S.-Cuba Sanctions Pressure: Cuba’s U.N. ambassador says Washington demands private investment while “piling on” sanctions every few weeks, and the latest penalties target state mining, metal and construction firms. Economic Strain at Home: Cuba’s government says it’s pushing reforms to compete, but the crisis shows up in daily life—teachers in Holguín report they haven’t been paid since May, and Cuba recorded far more deaths than births in 2025. Private Sector Food Support: Mincin is outlining how food outlets in the Family Care System can be managed via public bidding, including non-state actors. Migration Human Stories: A Cuban mother in Miami was released from ICE detention after months, while another Cuban migrant joined a caravan from Tapachula saying there are “no jobs here.” Sports & Culture: Cuba lost to India in its U-17 volleyball World Cup debut; and a viral reunion video shows a woman screaming “Grandma!” after four years apart. U.S. Politics Ripple: Reports say the U.S. Navy may rename a carrier originally set for Pearl Harbor hero Doris Miller—possibly after Trump—sparking backlash.

US Sanctions Escalate: The Trump administration added three ICAP officials and nine Cuban state entities to the sanctions list, including the Ministry of Construction and firms tied to mining, metals, and construction, while also tightening enforcement against Americans traveling to Cuba for business with state-linked enterprises. Cuban Response: Díaz-Canel vowed Cuba “will know how to resist and overcome,” as Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez accused Washington of targeting food, medicine, and essential services. Humanitarian Pressure Claims: A Cuban deputy minister again called the blockade “genocide,” citing shortages in health care, fuel-linked water problems, and long surgical waits. Power and Daily Life: UNE warned that maintenance and breakdowns could worsen blackouts from September to December. Infrastructure Hit: A train derailment in Camagüey left 14 cars off the tracks and disrupted passenger services. Education Under Strain: Officials toured Havana higher-education projects while insisting “universities are our reason for being,” amid a wider education crisis. Public Mood: Cubans mocked official population data showing a sharp decline driven mainly by migration.

Cuba’s Decree-Law Push: Cuba’s Council of State approved four new decree-laws, including steps aimed at easing rules for micro, small and medium enterprises and non-agricultural cooperatives, plus mandatory civil liability insurance for motor vehicles. Humanitarian Crisis Under Pressure: South African Anglican priest Michael Lapsley returned from Havana saying the U.S. blockade is driving “a genocide without bombs,” pointing to fuel shortages, long electricity outages, and knock-on effects for water and medicine production. Fuel and Power Fallout: A sewage leak has been flooding the entrance ramp to the Pediatric Hospital “Paquito González Cueto” in Cienfuegos for months, forcing families and staff to walk through contaminated water. Scam Warning for Cubans: A Cuban in the U.S. lost $1,900 after scammers hacked a WhatsApp account and posed as a friend to demand bank transfers. Diaspora Reality Check: Another Cuban on TikTok pushed back on emigrants who call home to complain and insist they want to return, saying her life abroad is stable and she won’t be used as a sounding board. U.S.-Liberia Deportations: Reuters reports the first U.S. deportation flight to Liberia is expected soon, with Liberia’s information minister saying many deportees are from Latin America, including Cuba and Venezuela.

Cuba-US Diplomacy Clash: Cuba welcomed 10 diplomats expelled from the Dominican Republic, with Deputy Foreign Minister Josefina Vidal calling it capitulation to U.S. pressure and part of Washington’s push to isolate Havana. Sanctions and Strategy: A new America First Policy Institute report urges the Trump administration to confront Cuba’s “dictatorship next door,” including a permanent U.S. military presence in the Caribbean and tighter pressure on the regime. BRICS Bid: Cuba’s embassy says Havana wants full membership in BRICS, citing the “U.S. economic war” and threats of force. Economy Under Pressure: Cuba Post says package delays are due to fuel shortages, not its postal service—after customer complaints about shipments stuck for weeks. Local Crackdown: In Las Tunas, authorities shut 22 private businesses and revoked eight licenses after a week of inspections targeting self-employment and small firms. Power Strain: Two people were arrested in Matanzas for stealing dielectric oil from transformers, worsening outages. Transportation Update: New Yutong buses arrived in Holguín to strengthen interprovincial service, including the Holguín–Havana route. Sports Defection Claims: A report says Cuban agents posed as athletes at the Dominican Republic games to monitor Cuban athletes and prevent defections.

Cuba’s Crisis Under the Spotlight: A new report says 94% of Cubans live in extreme poverty, with food, healthcare, housing, and public services deteriorating fast. Energy & Health Fallout: Another piece links Cuba’s worsening blackouts to a broader humanitarian collapse, warning that hospitals and vaccines are being hit when the grid fails. False Alarm in Cuba: Cuba’s seismology center says a recent “earthquake” alert was completely false after users panicked and some evacuated. National Security Warning: A U.S. think-tank argues Cuba’s ties with Russia, China, and Iran could create a strategic foothold just 90 miles from Florida. Diplomats & Pressure: Coverage continues around the Dominican Republic expelling Cuban diplomats, with Cuba condemning the move and calling it tied to U.S. pressure. Global Context: Separate reporting revisits Trump’s claim that there are no Iran talks and that the Strait of Hormuz is “new U.S. territory,” underscoring how Cuba is being pulled into wider U.S. adversary strategy.

Cuba Under Pressure: Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz says Cuba is integrating into the global economy “with sovereignty and not with submission,” as reforms expand space for small and medium private business. Human Rights & Control: State Security imposed a precautionary measure on Masonic leader José Ramón Viñas Alonso after interrogation for “disobedience,” including weekly sign-ins and a ban on leaving the country. Economy & Daily Life: In the informal market, the dollar stayed stable at 663 CUP while the euro slipped to 757 CUP; meanwhile, retirees in Holguín report monthly pension delays and long bank lines. Women’s Safety: Cuba’s official report on feminicide trials shows 49 cases processed in 2025, with most killings tied to ex-partners and occurring at home. International Spotlights: A probe says Cuban agents infiltrated the Dominican Republic’s Pan American Games venues to monitor athletes and prevent defections. Diaspora & Culture: In Miami’s Little Havana, a Calle Ocho bar is turning Thursdays into salsa lessons plus Cuban bites and drinks. US-Iran Tension: Trump says no Iran talks are scheduled and posts a map labeling the Strait of Hormuz as “new US territory,” escalating regional friction.

Holguín Trade & Markets: Holguín is rolling out the “Neighborhood Market” project to expand food, cleaning and hygiene sales via a network of state and authorized private operators, with payments in Cuban pesos and electronic commerce; Eastern Cuba Trade Platform: The 3.H Hub Honor Holguinero platform launched to connect new economic actors with investors for mining, tourism, ports, renewable energy and smart agriculture; Energy & Security: Minint stepped up patrols after theft attempts on the Matanzas viaduct railing, while authorities also report rising theft of transformer dielectric oil that leaves communities without power; Health Transport: Holguín commissioned eco-friendly vehicles to move hemodialysis patients to major hospitals, starting test runs on routes; Fidel Centenary Diplomacy & Solidarity: Cuba marked Fidel Castro’s 100th birthday with events in Havana and abroad, including tributes and international messages of support amid renewed U.S. pressure; U.S.-Cuba Politics: A U.S. academic warns Cuba is facing a “slow suffocation” as blackouts and shortages worsen, while U.S. policy debates increasingly focus on sanctions over military options.

Havana Under Strain: After months of rolling power cuts and a US fuel embargo, Old Havana is eerily empty at night, with residents reporting violence, hunger, and daily survival amid blackouts. Diplomatic Fallout: Cuba’s ambassador and mission staff left the Dominican Republic before a seven-day deadline after nine diplomats were ordered out, with Cuba blaming US pressure and citing Vienna Convention rules. Cost of Living Shock: A Cuban woman paid $99 for an 8 kg gas cylinder after 20 days without cooking, underscoring how shortages and outages keep squeezing households. Sanctions Hit Jobs: A new report says US sanctions have pushed tourism near zero, leaving hotels empty and about 25,000 workers jobless. Local Governance & Prices: In Camagüey, price-control inspections sparked backlash as residents accuse shops of hiding goods and state dollar stores of operating outside oversight. Fidel Centenary, Culture On: The 34th Havana International Book Fair wrapped its first stage, with organizers saying the embargo can’t stop the event.

Fidel Castro Centenary & Cuba’s Internationalism: Cuba marked the 101st anniversary of the founding of the first Communist Party and continued centenary events tied to Fidel’s legacy, including cultural and solidarity gatherings abroad. Humanitarian Aid & Energy Crisis: Russia delivered humanitarian aid to Cuba in Havana—food, supplies, and first-aid kits—framed as support amid Cuba’s energy shortages. Diplomacy Under Strain: The Duartiano Institute urged the Dominican Republic to explain reports of U.S. pressure behind the expulsion of nine Cuban mission members, stressing sovereignty and constitutional limits on foreign interference. U.S. “Maximum Stranglehold” Claims: Cuba’s foreign minister reiterated that U.S. coercive measures aim to reduce Cuba’s capacity to provide basic goods and services, citing major OFAC fines and financial restrictions. Health & Daily Life: Santiago de Cuba received new ambulances for urgent care as the blockade continues to hit the health system. Science & Resilience: Cuba’s Hermanos Díaz refinery completed another domestic crude processing run, producing naphtha and fuel oil, while meteorologists warn El Niño could intensify drought and heat risks. Sports & Culture: Cuban players debuted in China’s professional league, and the National Ballet of Cuba prepared a Fidel-focused program.

U.S.-Cuba Tensions: President Miguel Díaz-Canel said Cuba is willing to talk with the United States “without pressure,” after Trump-era threats tied to oil and sanctions. Energy Crisis: Antonio Guiteras’ claim it’s back online drew biting skepticism online, while Santiago de Cuba reported stolen transformer dielectric oil—another hit to an already fragile grid. Daily Life Under Strain: Cubans shared shock at an empty Havana bus terminal blamed on fuel shortages, and a demographer warned the population could fall to about 5.6 million if current trends continue. Economy & Prices: The informal market closed with the dollar steady at 664 CUP and the euro at 760 CUP, as Cubans keep navigating scarcity. Politics & Society: A Cuban jurist urged “political equality” and warned that “political poverty” drives economic misery; meanwhile an officialist lawmaker’s post about the public “gasping” sparked backlash. Human Stories: A woman visiting Cuba for her daughter’s birthday was overwhelmed by neighbors’ gifts despite hardship. Internationalism & Culture: Cuba’s Fidel centenary coverage continues, including solidarity messages and cultural tributes.

Power Crisis in Havana: Cubans are increasingly using the Malecón to cool off and escape long blackouts, with people even bathing and sleeping there despite the swimming ban, as outages stretch past 20 hours a day. Electricity Company Backlash in Cienfuegos: A state utility posted a celebratory video of linemen after repairs, but residents flooded the comments with sarcasm—saying the “joy” doesn’t match their 50–60 hour blackouts. Water and Infrastructure Abroad: Namibia plans to sign an MoU with Cuba to learn water-harvesting and canal/tunnel building for floodwater transfer to drought-hit regions. U.S.-Cuba Pressure and Influence: A U.S. Senate push is demanding answers after a Cuban diplomat allegedly briefed a major defense union on lobbying to change U.S. Cuba policy and oppose the embargo. Fidel Centenary Echoes: Multiple pieces mark Fidel Castro’s 100th birthday, including internationalist and anti-imperialism tributes and reflections on Cuba’s role in global struggles.

Diplomatic Fallout: Cuba’s diplomats in the Dominican Republic began packing after the DR ordered the departure of nine officials and their families, with Cuba denouncing the move as pressure tied to Washington. Sanctions Pressure: A new U.S. approach is reportedly shifting from military options toward tighter economic squeeze, aiming to cut off regime revenue. Food & Energy Strain: Cuba’s oil shortage is worsening daily life, with people lining up for cooking substitutes like pork fat—only to find it scarce too—while blackouts and supply gaps keep hitting everything from basic goods to services. Public Anger at Home: A Cuban human-rights report says overwhelming majorities disapprove of Díaz-Canel and Marrero’s management and distrust recent economic measures. Political Prisoner Update: Guillermo del Sol Pérez remains in critical condition after nearly 60 days on hunger strike, demanding releases of political prisoners. Local Governance Reality Check: In Sancti Spíritus, authorities are inspecting private businesses to rein in prices and push electronic payments, but residents and small operators describe the rules as mismatched with how supplies actually work. Centenary Echoes: Across the island, Fidel Castro’s 100th birthday celebrations continue alongside the crisis—mixing official tributes with everyday shortages and frustration.

Fidel Castro at 100: Cuba marked Fidel’s centenary in Havana with major cultural events attended by Raúl Castro, Díaz-Canel and family, as the island’s energy and economic crisis continues to shape how his legacy is remembered. Diplomacy under strain: The Dominican Republic ordered nine Cuban diplomats and their families to leave, with critics questioning the motives and Dominican sources alleging intelligence-related activities tied to Havana. U.S. pressure and sanctions debate: The U.S. is also weighing a tougher approach toward Cuba, with reports that military options are fading while sanctions remain the focus, alongside broader U.S. scrutiny of Cuba-linked ties. Economy watch: In Cuba’s informal market, the dollar slid on Aug. 15 while the euro held steady, reflecting ongoing foreign-exchange scarcity. Everyday hardship: Official media admits the state can do “little or nothing” against inflation, as vegetable oil prices soar and strain household budgets. Regional security: CARICOM IMPACS’ Operation Eclipse seized about US$54.5M in illicit assets and contraband across Caribbean smuggling routes. Culture and repression: Influencer Anna Bensi faces trial over a video she says was met with State Security pressure, highlighting continued crackdowns on dissent.

US-Cuba Policy Shift: The Trump administration is moving away from military options and toward tighter sanctions, aiming to cut off Cuba’s revenue streams and pressure the Castro leadership into fractures and possible talks. Humanitarian Fallout: The UN warns sanctions fear is driving “overcompliance,” delaying or rerouting medicine and aid shipments to Cuba, worsening shortages amid fuel problems and power outages. Diplomatic Tensions in the Region: The Dominican Republic expelled nine Cuban embassy officials and their families, and Cuba condemned the move as driven by U.S. pressure. Fidel Centenary Spotlight: Cuba marked Fidel Castro’s 100th birthday with major events, while Namibia renewed its call for the unconditional lifting of the U.S. embargo and pledged solidarity. Local Life Under Strain: Reports highlight blackouts and shortages hitting households hard, including daily struggles for food and electricity. Migration and Crime: A Cuban national in Florida pleaded guilty in an alien smuggling and money laundering case tied to fraudulent visa and ESTA schemes.