AGP Executive Report

Cuban Power Crisis & Human Cost: A lineman, Alexander Pantoja Bertot, was found dead in Santiago de Cuba after three days searching following an inspection of power lines supplying the Gota Blanca reservoir, underscoring how fuel shortages and dangerous grid conditions keep turning into tragedy. Electricity & Education Disruptions: Central University “Marta Abreu” of Las Villas (UCLV) pushed in-person classes for second- and third-year students to January 2027, citing the wider economic crisis and fuel constraints that are reshaping schooling nationwide. Sanctions Pressure on Cuban Business: Spain froze Tabacalera’s accounts tied to Habanos’ private partner after EU sanctions on businessman Chen Zhi; the firm reportedly needs Treasury authorization for payments, delaying salaries. Informal Market Signals: In Cuba’s informal market, the dollar and euro rose at week’s end, with the euro climbing to 791 CUP and the dollar to 694 CUP. BRICS Solidarity on Cuba: BRICS’ New Delhi Declaration included a dedicated paragraph on Cuba’s worsening humanitarian impact from unilateral blockade measures, with Global South partners calling for an end to coercive sanctions. Social Strain on the Island: An AP report highlights mounting psychological stress as water, power, fuel and housing shortages deepen, with doctors describing patients “crying” and needing to act as de facto counselors.

BRICS Summit Fallout (Cuba angle): Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez said the New Delhi Declaration reflects BRICS “deep concern” over the U.S. blockade’s renewed harm to Cuba’s economy, energy supplies, and human rights, calling for an end to unilateral coercive measures. BRICS Tech & Trade: Leaders backed resilience, innovation, supply chains, health and an “open-source AI ecosystem,” while warning against the “weaponisation” of technology and critical minerals. Currency Watch (Cuba): In the informal market, the dollar held at 693 CUP while the euro climbed to 788 CUP; the MLC also rose to 464 CUP, underscoring continued pressure for foreign currency. Aviation Claims (Cuba): Russian firm ARK Technic filed a second Moscow arbitration lawsuit tied to Cuban state aviation entities, bringing its total claims to about $8.65 million. Local Accountability (Villa Clara): Residents in Manicaragua accused a milk tanker of diverting supplies meant for pregnant women and services, demanding investigations and returns. Energy & Safety: A missing Santiago de Cuba electrical worker was found dead; meanwhile, a cow-caused collision damaged a bus near Ciego de Ávila.

BRICS Summit (India): Leaders wrapped up the 18th BRICS meeting in New Delhi, adopting the “New Delhi Declaration” and pushing themes of resilience, innovation, cooperation, and sustainability. The bloc also flagged growing nuclear risks and condemned attacks on civilian infrastructure and peaceful nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards, while backing local-currency trade and calling out unilateral tariffs/sanctions. Cuba in BRICS orbit: Cuba is listed among BRICS partner countries attending the summit, and Havana used the platform to highlight infrastructure and international support, including Kuwait Fund backing and talks on a double taxation agreement. Cuban economy at home: In Sancti Spíritus, a small pilot is starting to let private businesses pay pensions in cash where banks can’t—still limited to under 100 retirees. Energy & dollarization: Cuba’s “energy independence” messaging met reality checks: authorities cite plant restarts, but report major generation shortfalls due to fuel shortages; meanwhile, Havana’s Supermarket began selling gasoline/diesel online for pickup, paid from abroad. Cost-of-living pressure: A Havana customer complained about onion price gouging at a local fair versus other vendors. Tourism shock: Canada’s Air Transat says the collapse of Cuba flights is hitting results hard, with large revenue losses tied to fuel and operating costs.

BRICS Summit (New Delhi): Leaders adopted the New Delhi Declaration 2026, calling for WTO dispute-settlement restoration, opposing unilateral coercive measures, and urging “maximum restraint” amid West Asia tensions—while the text also flags the U.S. blockade’s impact on Cuba and demands an end to economic, commercial and financial measures. Cuba & Connectivity: ETECSA said the Isle of Youth remains cut off for a fourth day as weather delays repair of a damaged submarine cable, leaving only limited emergency satellite links. Cuba & Daily Life: The informal currency market showed the dollar rising to about 693 CUP, with the euro also up, reflecting ongoing scarcity pressures. Human Impact: A Cuban doctor in Miami received a rechargeable ventilator for her special-needs son after her case went viral. Work & Safety: Five Cuban men were among the dead in a Miami Amazon cargo-plane crash; in Cuba, an electrocution killed a lineman in Cienfuegos while another was hospitalized. Diplomacy: India’s EAM Jaishankar met Cuba’s FM Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla on BRICS sidelines, focusing on South-South cooperation.

BRICS Summit Watch: Leaders gather in New Delhi for the 18th BRICS summit as wars in Ukraine and West Asia keep pressure on energy, trade and inflation; India is pushing a “resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability” agenda while Iran and the UAE clash over how the joint declaration should address the conflict. Cuba’s Dollarization Push: Cuba expanded rules letting private businesses accept payments in foreign currency cash and deposit it in banks, easing earlier limits on foreign-currency operations. Solar Power Tensions: Cuba faces renewed friction over private rooftop solar as officials urge compliance with safety rules amid public debate over regulation and grid connection. Guantánamo Energy Update: Cuba inaugurated the El Algarrobo solar park, but reporting says Chinese technicians left unexpectedly, forcing local specialists to handle programming and adjustments. US-Cuba Immigration Court Fight: A Miami judge ruled she has jurisdiction in a lawsuit that could regularize the status of hundreds of thousands of Cubans who entered with I-220A permits, keeping the Cuban Adjustment Act pathway in play. Connectivity Crisis: Isle of Youth remains cut off after damage to telecom routes, with mobile service down and landlines limited to local calls.

Cuba’s agriculture overhaul: Cuba published a new legal framework for agricultural cooperatives and land use, expanding usufruct rights and allowing cooperatives to do direct exports and receive foreign investment—aimed at boosting food sovereignty. Energy resilience on the ground: Villa Clara added 50 solar “solineras” and charging stations to support families hit by blackouts, showing how private and local actors are filling gaps while the grid struggles. Community pharmacy rules: New regulations set common standards for private and mixed community pharmacies, including CECMED registration and tighter oversight across the supply chain. Local market risks: A Camagüey journalist warned of Revolico scams that steal WhatsApp accounts via fake sales-group links. BRICS and currencies: At the BRICS Business Forum in New Delhi, Iran’s president urged wider use of national currencies and local-currency financing through the New Development Bank—an angle that matters for Cuba’s trade and payments reality. Diplomatic spotlight: Cuba’s foreign minister Bruno Rodríguez arrived in New Delhi for the BRICS summit as Cuba also scored a major Human Rights Council win over the U.S. blockade. Human impact of U.S. policy: A Cuban deportation case highlights tightening U.S. enforcement and the uncertainty facing hundreds of thousands of Cubans under the Cuban Adjustment Act.

BRICS Summit Watch: India’s 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit opens Sept. 12-13 in New Delhi, with leaders including Putin, Xi and Iran’s Pezeshkian arriving amid wars and trade stress; India is pushing a practical agenda on food and energy resilience, critical supply chains, AI, and cross-border payments. Payments & Local Currency Push: Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal urged BRICS to link payment systems and expand trade in local currencies, while experts say deeper banking ties and faster-payment interoperability are key to scaling cross-border deals. Cuba in the BRICS Orbit: Cuba is listed as a BRICS partner country, and the summit’s outreach includes Latin America and the Caribbean; India also met Uruguay’s foreign minister to advance trade and connectivity with CELAC. Cuba Energy/Mining Deal Claims: Cuba reportedly approved entry of US capital into the mining sector, with a Miami Herald report alleging US-Cuba talks over fuel and Cupet were derailed by Cuban-American political pressure. Havana Water Logistics: In Havana, water is increasingly delivered by trucks to homes as pipe supply falters; a 1,000-liter tank can cost 10,000-15,000 pesos, highlighting the economic hit from electricity and infrastructure breakdowns.

US-Cuba Energy Talks: Reports say a secret Trump-era proposal to supply US oil in exchange for major political and energy-sector changes collapsed after Cuban resistance and Miami political pressure, with Washington reportedly seeking privatization and US control over CUPET/CIMEX. Agriculture Rules Update: Cuba’s Official Gazette published 19 regulations under Law 185, keeping state land ownership but expanding usufruct access for natural and legal entities, removing mandatory direct manual labor, and boosting rights over improvements—aimed at food production and food sovereignty. UN Blockade Pushback: Cuba’s foreign minister again denounced the US “genocidal blockade” at the UN Human Rights Council, citing unanimous support for lifting coercive measures and easing remittance and essential-goods restrictions. BRICS Summit Prep: India’s BRICS leaders’ meeting in New Delhi (Sept 12–13) is set to fine-tune initiatives like an incubator network, startup fund, and logistics supply-chain framework, with Xi and Putin among key arrivals. Local Industry Innovation: Holguín’s Medano construction materials company says it’s cutting costs and diversifying output via science/technology forums and equipment recovery to keep plants running amid import limits. Cuba-US Dialogue Frozen: Cuba’s foreign minister says there are currently no talks with Washington despite earlier de-escalation claims, as sanctions and an energy embargo continue to strain the economy. Culture & Tourism: Buena Vista Social Club launches a national tour in Buffalo, while Havana Harry’s in Coral Gables announces a fall reopening after a difficult closure period.

Cuba’s Private Pharma Push: Cuba is still not allowing any fully operating private pharmacies, but regulators say 36 pharmaceutical projects are under review, with 3 already being formally established and 14 approved to continue—while state pharmacies remain in place and key drug categories stay restricted. Transport Strain for Travelers: Viazul’s dollar-priced interprovincial service is deteriorating fast, with breakdowns, long waits, and limited alternatives turning trips into a gamble. Prison Sentences in Las Tunas: Eight dissidents in Las Tunas received seven- and eight-year terms for “propaganda against the constitutional order,” with one defendant prosecuted on bail due to serious cancer. Human Impact of Daily Crisis: A new report highlights the psychological toll of Cuba’s shortages—heat, water and power cuts, weak transport and connectivity—pushing families to breaking point. BRICS in the Spotlight: India’s 18th BRICS Summit (Sept. 12-13) brings major leaders and heavy security to New Delhi, with Cuba listed among partner countries and the agenda centered on resilience, innovation, cooperation, and sustainability.

Cuba’s Private Sector Rules: Cuba’s Council of State updated Decree-Law 88 to formally fold private companies with more than 100 workers into the legal framework, adding a new “medium-sized” tier (36–100) and clarifying that these firms can be state, private, mixed, or owned by mass organizations, with business autonomy under current law. Agribusiness Contracting: The Council of Ministers approved new regulations for marketing agricultural and forestry products, reshaping how contracts, pricing by agreement, quality/safety, and provincial contracting destinations work. Food & Energy Pressure: A new wave of reporting highlights how U.S. energy embargo-linked shortages are pushing Cubans to breaking point, with even faith processions for “Cachita” framed by worries over blackouts and daily survival. U.S. Political Heat: Marco Rubio faced pushback after comments tying Cuba’s oil/electricity crisis to Venezuela’s lost “free oil,” while Cuban outlets accused the regime of dodging hard questions about priorities like hotel investment. Miami Crash Fallout (Cuba-linked): In Miami, lawsuits are moving after an Amazon cargo plane crash killed five workers; one victim was a Cuban man, and his widow alleges negligence and systemic failures across the aviation chain. BRICS Watch: With the BRICS summit in New Delhi (Sep 12–13) approaching, coverage points to a focus on resilience in food, energy, health, and supply chains—plus trade imbalances, including India’s widening deficit with BRICS.

Human Cost of the Crisis: A new AP report captures how Cuba’s water, power, fuel and housing shortages are pushing people into burnout, with doctors describing patients who “end up having to play psychologist.” Energy & Fuel Blockade: Cuba’s foreign minister denounced U.S. restrictions on fuel imports for power generation, saying the curbs block even paid-for supplies and slow solar and battery purchases; the government also says the blockade is driving record damage. Water Woes in Havana: Díaz-Canel toured the “El Gato” water system, outlining leak fixes, pumping upgrades and a shift toward renewables to stabilize electricity for pumping. Sanctions Impact on Food: A Jacobin piece argues the U.S. is using food access as leverage by targeting Cuba’s ability to grow, process and import food unless it buys from U.S. firms. Currency Signals: In the informal market, the dollar rose while the euro held steady, with the MLC moving up cautiously amid low volume. Diplomacy & Trade Talks: Kuwait and Cuba opened talks on a double taxation agreement, while Marco Rubio pressed security cooperation and faster trade deals in Latin America. Local Business Risk: A Cuban entrepreneur warned abroad investors after a robbery, alleging police inaction. Legal & Rights: A Camagüey folkloric ballet former director was sentenced over abuse of minors, and Las Tunas courts handed long terms to political prisoners.

Cuba–U.S. Pressure & Blockade Costs: Cuba’s foreign minister Bruno Rodríguez called the U.S. blockade “collective punishment” and said it has driven record damage, while Díaz-Canel vowed Cuba “will never again be a colony” and will defend sovereignty “to the last consequences.” Sanctions & Economic Strain: Reports highlight fuel and electricity shortages, with citizens adapting to blackouts and shortages that keep hitting daily life. Military-Economic Model Under Scrutiny: A Florida International University panel will discuss GAESA’s scale, citing research that links it to a dominant share of Cuba’s economy and arguing for dismantling such structures in any democratic transition. Local Business & Trade Politics: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio begins a Latin America tour (Colombia, Ecuador, Peru) aimed at security cooperation and trade deals, while Cuba-related sanctions and pressure remain central to the broader strategy. Cuba in the News Cycle: A Miami Herald investigation describes a Cuban intelligence infiltration of Miami exile circles, and a separate report covers a fatal case of violence against a Havana teenager. Community Response: A Cuban mother’s stolen EcoFlow and solar panel sparked a fast solidarity fundraising push that raised over $1,400 in days.

Cuba–U.S. Sanctions: Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez says the stepped-up U.S. embargo caused record losses of $8.083bn from March 2025 to Feb 2026, calling it “collective punishment” behind cascading damage to water, power and healthcare. Energy & Health Crisis: Rodríguez links blackouts and fuel shortages to medical disruptions, including operating-room and life-support strain, while the U.S. embassy issued a health alert over rising diarrheal illness tied to deteriorating infrastructure. Diplomatic Posture: Cuba says there are no ongoing talks or roadmaps with Washington, though it remains open to contacts under equality and non-interference. Economic Pressure on Daily Life: Reports highlight how the crisis is hitting basic services and paperwork, with passport processing delays stretching months and offices sometimes unable to serve applicants when electricity fails. Local Business Resilience: In Holguín, a private restaurant owner provides free weekend meals to doctors on duty, a small but telling example of private support amid public strain. BRICS Watch: India’s BRICS summit preparations in New Delhi (Sept 12–13) keep global trade and finance cooperation in focus, with leaders’ sideline meetings including Modi and Putin. South Africa–Cuba Link: South Africa’s SANDF denies allegations of compulsory “donations” from soldiers’ allowances tied to support for needy Cubans, while a union demands an independent inquiry.

US-Cuba Sanctions Clash: Cuba’s foreign minister Bruno Rodríguez says there are no talks or agendas with Washington, while Havana puts U.S. blockade damage at $8.1B for March 2025–Feb 2026 (up 7%), warning the hit will worsen in early 2026 as an “oil blockade” deepens blackouts. Poverty & Social Strain: A human rights report says 94% of Cubans live in extreme poverty and 8 in 10 skip meals due to lack of food or money, with power outages and food shortages topping urgent problems. Energy Reality Check: Residents describe cascading failures in buildings during outages, including a Nuevo Vedado case where a phase loss can leave elevators and water offline for extended periods. Telecom Friction: ETECSA’s new public WiFi zone in Nueva Gerona drew sarcasm and complaints as users question connectivity value amid service deterioration and safety concerns. Tourism Pressure: ONEI data shows traveler flows fell by about half in the first seven months of 2026, with international arrivals down sharply, as sanctions and travel restrictions squeeze the sector. Diplomatic Messaging: Rodríguez briefed accredited diplomats on the blockade’s “record” losses and Cuba’s plan to keep contacts with the U.S. despite stalled progress.

Cuba’s Power Divide: With blackouts worsening, some Havana residents light up businesses with solar while many others endure long outages, shortages, and deteriorating services—an economic split that’s becoming impossible to ignore. Electricity Disruptions in Santiago de Cuba: In Mariana de la Torre, residents report ~48 hours without power after transformer wiring issues, while Garzón high-rises in Santiago de Cuba say outages lasted up to ~40 hours, leaving elevators and water systems effectively unusable. Currency Watch (Informal Market): The dollar held steady at 683 CUP as the euro slipped slightly to 775 CUP, with MLC also down—another sign of structural currency strain. US Sanctions & Energy Pressure: Coverage highlights how new US restrictions are intensifying pressure on Cuba’s economy and power grid, deepening the crisis. Market Reform Signals: Belarus–Cuba trade talks point to cooperation opportunities tied to Cuba’s ongoing economic reforms, including food security goals. Local Governance & Transparency: A Cuban writer demands public disclosure on “millionaire compatriots of socialism,” pushing for names and sources of wealth in a system that claims socialist equality. Raúl Castro Returns to TV: Former president Raúl Castro, 95, reappears on state television at a security-unit anniversary, reinforcing his continued influence amid economic turmoil.

Energy & Daily Life: Cuba’s blackout crisis is pushing households and small businesses toward improvisation, from solar setups and solar-powered generators to makeshift solutions like an old cargo truck converted into a water tanker in Havana. Protest & Governance: In Havana’s Fontanar, residents staged pot-banging demonstrations and blocked a main road over power cuts lasting 20+ hours, with police moving in to end the action. Security & Private Sector: A security camera captured a forced break-in at a private restaurant-bar in El Vedado, highlighting how business owners increasingly rely on surveillance and social media as police response is seen as insufficient. Sanctions & Tourism: ONEI data shows Cuba’s travel inflow fell sharply in early 2026, with international visitors down 62.8%, as restrictions and U.S. pressure keep money from entering the economy. Markets & Currency: In the informal market, the dollar held steady around 683 CUP while the euro edged down to about 775 CUP and the MLC slipped to roughly 444 CUP. Politics & Health Signals: Raúl Castro reappeared publicly at a military event, dampening rumors about his condition. Human Rights: A U.S. judge authorized ICE to force-feed a Cuban hunger striker via a surgical tube, renewing scrutiny of detention practices.