AGP Executive Report

Tourism Shock: Canada’s Air Canada, WestJet and Air Transat have suspended all Cuba flights and vacation packages indefinitely, citing Cuba’s worsening political and economic uncertainty and the island’s fuel and power crisis—another blow after earlier pauses. Financial Squeeze: Cuba’s central bank says Visa and Mastercard transactions for non-U.S. visitors will stop starting Saturday, while the informal market shows the dollar hitting a new record of 620 CUP and the euro 705 CUP, underlining eroding purchasing power. Sanctions & Corporate Exit: Miami-Dade revoked business tax receipts for three companies tied to unauthorized cement shipments to Cuba, as foreign firms keep pulling back amid U.S. pressure. Energy & Daily Life: Cuba’s currency slide and blackouts continue to hit households hard, with reports of spoiled food, limited water/electricity, and survival routines. Humanitarian Aid: A ship carrying 1,700 tons of food and essentials arrived from Mexico and Belize as the crisis deepens. Governance & Labor: Cuba’s CTC congress sessions will be held via videoconference June 26–27 due to austerity and the energy crisis.

U.S. Sanctions Tighten on Cuba’s Security Network: Washington imposed new sanctions on Cuban military instrumentalities and other actors tied to “subversive anti-American activities,” targeting entities and individuals linked to the regime’s global outreach. Humanitarian Fallout Claim: Cuba’s foreign minister Bruno Rodríguez said children are bearing the brunt of the blockade, citing a sharp rise in infant mortality and worsening outcomes for children with cancer. Tourism Contract Shock: Indonesian chain Archipelago International confirmed it is exiting Cuba, joining other hotel pullouts as U.S. pressure on GAESA accelerates and the tourism sector keeps shrinking. Payments and Access Strain: Reports say Visa and Mastercard access is set to stop functioning in Cuba from June 6, while Cubans also complain that many small businesses won’t accept bank transfers—forcing cash-only shopping. Energy and Daily Life Pressure: Residents in Nuevo Vedado and elsewhere complain about ETECSA generator noise and ongoing blackouts; separate coverage highlights fuel and infrastructure strain hitting services. Food System Stress: Cuba’s food industry minister admitted wheat mills are inactive or barely operating, regulated bread coverage is limited, and 2026 wheat deliveries have been disrupted. Local Economy Stress Stories: A Bayamo bicitaxi driver said tire theft destroyed his livelihood; in Santiago de Cuba, customers denounced moldy, decomposing regulated bread. Tech/Connectivity Reality Check: ETECSA touts a WSIS award for its online services, but coverage notes slow internet speeds and persistent dissatisfaction after prior rate hikes. Opposition and Repression: A Havana influencer behind “Despingovery” parody documentaries says he’s been silenced after arrest, while other opposition voices warn of a worsening crisis.

U.S. Sanctions Push Cuba Further Into Crisis: Washington expanded sanctions targeting President Miguel Díaz-Canel, his wife Lis Cuesta, and close Castro relatives, alongside entities tied to Cuba’s defense and neighborhood structures, as Havana warns the move is meant to reinforce the blockade and escalate pressure. Payments Freeze Hits Daily Commerce: Visa and Mastercard are set to stop operating in Cuba via FINCIMEX after a foreign bank severed ties, adding to the squeeze on trade and tourism-linked spending. Tourism Exodus Accelerates: Air Canada suspends Cuba flights indefinitely, joining other carriers and hotel operators that are pulling back under “political and economic uncertainty,” while Meliá and Iberostar have already withdrawn management from multiple properties. Currency Jumps in the Informal Market: The dollar, euro, and MLC hit new highs in Cuba’s informal exchange market, signaling worsening purchasing power. Energy Fallout Deepens: Fuel shortages and power instability continue to disrupt basic services, with even trash collection stalling and residents relying on improvised solutions. Russia-Cuba Health Deal: Cuba and Russia formalized cooperation on producing cancer vaccines and medical supplies despite U.S. sanctions. Regional Support: Colombia sent about 100 tons of humanitarian aid to Cuba, including food, medicines, electrical materials, solar panels, and hospital supplies.

Sanctions Pressure on Cuba’s Leadership: The U.S. added President Miguel Díaz-Canel, his wife Lis Cuesta, stepson Manuel Anido Cuesta, and Raúl Castro’s son and grandson to its sanctions list, freezing assets and enabling secondary sanctions that could hit foreign firms tied to Cuba’s state apparatus. Oil and Energy Dispute: Cuba rejected Marco Rubio’s claim that Washington doesn’t block oil shipments, pointing to Executive Order 14380 and warning that tariffs deter third countries from supplying fuel. China Pushback: China condemned the escalation as bullying and urged the U.S. to stop the blockade and coercion. Tourism Fallout: Cuba opened the door to hotel management by Cuban investors at home and abroad as Spanish chain Meliá scaled back operations; meanwhile Sunwing and WestJet suspended all Cuba trips indefinitely. Fuel Crisis Meets Daily Life: Havana residents report garbage piling up as fuel shortages stall collection, with burning waste raising health fears. Telecom Theft: Santiago de Cuba saw repeated theft of solar panels and photovoltaic panels from ETECSA infrastructure, disrupting services and adding economic losses. Local Power Strain: Manicaragua officials faced backlash after reporting electricity “restored” to the promised two hours, following long outages. Crypto Signal: Bitcoin slid below $60,000, reflecting broader market jitters.

Sanctions Shock: The U.S. imposed fresh sanctions on Cuba’s President Miguel Díaz-Canel, his wife and other senior figures, freezing assets and escalating pressure as Havana links the move to a broader push to reinforce the blockade. Payments Collapse: Visa and Mastercard services are set to stop in Cuba, with the central bank warning of disruption as foreign card processing ties unwind. Tourism Hit: Sunwing Vacations Group indefinitely suspends all Cuba operations, while Spain’s Meliá shutters 15 of its 34 hotels—another blow to jobs and foreign-currency inflows. Currency Strain: Reports point to new records for the dollar in Cuba’s informal market, underscoring worsening liquidity stress. Energy & Daily Life: Blackouts and fuel shortages keep worsening daily uncertainty, with even transport shifting toward animal traction. Geopolitics & Supply: Russia says it will deliver Moskvich cars for Havana’s taxi fleet, highlighting continued external support amid U.S. pressure. Environment & Cooperation: Cuba’s science and environment officials push for more predictable climate finance and denounce U.S. moves affecting early-warning systems.

US Sanctions Tighten on Cuba’s Leadership: The Trump administration imposed new sanctions on Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, his wife, and stepson, plus Raúl Castro family members and key state-linked entities including MINFAR, ICAP, Amistur, and the CDR, freezing assets and restricting US dealings; Havana condemned the move as escalation amid fuel shortages, blackouts, and worsening shortages. Rubio Targets Cuba’s Influence Network: Secretary of State Marco Rubio also moved to sanction ICAP, warning US groups they can’t do business with the organization tied to Cuba’s ideological and intelligence influence abroad. Financial Rails Disrupted: Reports say Visa and Mastercard payment services will cease functioning in Cuba from June 6, adding pressure to an already strained economy. Tourism Under More Strain: Spain’s Meliá is exiting or shutting down multiple Cuba hotels as sanctions bite and foreign firms pull back. Broader Pressure Campaign: US officials framed the crackdown as pushing Cuba to “feed its people,” while critics argue it’s siege tactics that deepen humanitarian harm.

Visa/Mastercard Cutoff: Cuba’s central bank says Visa and Mastercard transactions will stop from June 6 after expanded U.S. sanctions pushed a foreign banking partner to withdraw, hitting payments for goods and services and adding pressure to tourism and everyday commerce. Tourism Fallout: Spanish hotel operator Meliá announced it will immediately cease management and brand licensing for 15 Cuba hotels, citing worsening legal, security, and operating conditions; the company says most sites are already non-operational due to energy constraints and weaker demand. Fuel-Energy Strain: Reports tied the latest economic squeeze to the ongoing fuel blockade and power disruptions, with Havana’s trash and transport problems worsening as streets overflow and services falter. Sanctions Escalation: Multiple outlets report the U.S. sanctions wave is set to take effect June 5, with Washington also threatening broader pressure beyond U.S. firms. Diplomatic Pushback: China’s foreign ministry urged the U.S. to end the blockade and sanctions, while Parlatino warned that U.S. military talk plus tighter economic restrictions raise the risk of escalation. Russia Interest: Russian officials said companies are still looking at long-term investment in Cuba, including agro-industry exports and tech cooperation, despite external pressure.

US-Cuba Pressure Escalates: Cuba’s former leader Raúl Castro turned 95, but his whereabouts were still unclear after a US indictment tied to the 1996 shootdown of civilian planes, as Washington also tightens sanctions and threatens foreign firms operating on the island. Sanctions Hit Daily Finance: Cuba’s central bank says Visa and Mastercard payment services will stop working from June 6 after a foreign partner ends ties with Fincimex, cutting off card-based income for goods and services. Tourism Exodus Accelerates: Spain’s Meliá will cease management/marketing for 15 of its Cuba hotels, joining other withdrawals as US measures target GAESA-linked business activity. Diplomacy vs. Negotiation Talk: Marco Rubio told lawmakers Cuba has “technocrats” who could be negotiated with, while Cuba rejects US claims that it sponsors terrorism, calling the designation political. Currency Stress on the Street: The informal dollar rate reportedly pushed toward 600 CUP, reflecting worsening conditions for remittance recipients and households.

UN Watch: UN rights experts warned that escalating U.S. “threats and coercion” against Cuba echo “colonial-era practices,” citing Trump’s rhetoric and measures tied to the GAESA deadline and the long-running embargo. Tourism Exodus: Meliá Hotels International said it will immediately stop managing and marketing 15 Cuba hotels linked to GAESA, joining a wider pullback that already included Iberostar and other operators as fuel shortages and demand collapse bite. Policy Pressure: Spanish firms are increasingly leaving or cutting back after U.S. Executive Order 14404 expands penalties for companies doing business with Cuba’s “strategic” sectors, raising legal and security risk for foreign operators. Economic Strain: Reuters describes a “wartime-scale” crisis as sanctions and a fuel blockade deepen shortages, while Cubans keep “resistir” amid collapsing services and near-disappearing tourism. Security Framing: Marco Rubio told U.S. lawmakers Cuba is a failed state and a growing national security challenge, alleging intelligence activity by rivals and continued destabilizing support in the region. Energy Lifeline: Russia says it is coordinating steps with Havana at SPIEF, pointing to recent oil deliveries amid renewed power and fuel disruptions.

Electricity Crunch: Cuban National Television went dark mid-broadcast, underscoring the power crisis as Havana substation failures and rolling outages hit demand and leave provinces like Holguín with as little as three hours of electricity daily. Tourism & Air Access: Iberia paused Madrid–Havana flights until Oct. 24, joining other carriers that cite fuel-refueling uncertainty after the U.S. blocked oil/diesel shipments and tightened pressure on Cuba’s economy. Sanctions Pressure on GAESA: Washington’s deadline to sever ties with GAESA is already driving foreign companies to cut back or exit, with AFP reporting major tourism operators shutting down amid fears of asset freezes and financial-system access problems. U.S. Policy Push: Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Congress Cuba must undergo “systemic and profound” reform to stop being a “failed state” and a security threat, while Codepink protesters disrupted a Senate hearing demanding an end to the blockade. Local Energy Priorities: Holguín’s utility reportedly tried to prioritize tourism over households in the electricity rotation plan—then deleted the statement after backlash. Crypto Sentiment: Bitcoin slid below $70,000 as investors pulled from ETFs, reviving debate over whether it can hedge inflation.

GAESA Sanctions Pressure Hits Tourism: Cuba’s military-linked GAESA is again in the crosshairs as the U.S. expands sanctions and foreign hotel operators pull back; Archipelago International ended Aston-brand operations in Cuba, joining Canada’s Blue Diamond and Spain’s Iberostar in reducing or exiting GAESA-linked activity ahead of a Friday deadline. Air Travel Fallout: Iberia suspended direct Madrid–Havana flights from June 1 to Oct. 24, citing Cuba’s fuel blockade impacts and a sharp drop in demand—another blow to tourism and foreign-currency inflows. Humanitarian Supply Blocked: The UN says the U.S. blockade is preventing UN food and fuel shipments from reaching Cuba; WFP reports 11,000 tons stuck at Cuban ports and thousands more in warehouses, with distribution hampered by fuel shortages. GAE/GAESA Denounced by Havana: Cuba’s government says Washington is escalating aggression by targeting the Business Administration Group (GAE/GAESA) and secondary sanctions aimed at foreign firms. Cuban Daily-Cost Reality: With gasoline scarce and pricey, Cubans are improvising transport—one Holguín rider converted a motorbike into a pedal-powered bicycle after fuel hit extreme informal-market levels. US Politics Watch: Secretary of State Marco Rubio testified publicly for the first time since the Iran war began, while lawmakers press on foreign-policy strategy—background noise that still shapes the pressure campaign on Cuba.

U.S.-Cuba Economic Pressure: Cuba’s UN envoy Ernesto Soberón Guzmán said the U.S. “oil blockade” and other coercive measures are the main barrier to sustainable development, warning that military threats carry unpredictable regional risks. Energy & Daily Life: Cuba’s power strain keeps showing up in the real economy—Holguín is building the first photovoltaic charging station under a non-state model to support electric tricycles and even free phone/lamp charging, while reports also point to fuel shortages worsening food distribution. Tourism Hit: Iberia suspended direct Madrid–Havana flights, citing the crisis in Cuba, sanctions-linked supply problems, and logistical difficulties—another blow to travel-linked revenue. Sanctions & Finance: The U.S. moved to tighten pressure on GAESA-linked figures, with a case tied to GAESA’s military-controlled financial role. Humanitarian Fallout: A report says U.S. oil restrictions have paralyzed UN World Food Programme deliveries, leaving about 20,000 tons of food stuck or moving slowly. Infrastructure Stress: Cuba’s Guiteras thermoelectric plant repair complexity and recurring outages underline how energy failures ripple into production and services.

Tourism Shock: U.S. sanctions tied to GAESA are pushing foreign hotel operators out of Cuba—Blue Diamond Resorts says it is withdrawing and Iberostar has removed its brand and shut at least 12 flagship hotels, deepening the standstill in flights and visitor numbers. Currency Pressure: The informal dollar rate hit a new high at 585 CUP, up about five pesos a day for four straight days, widening the gap with the official rate and underscoring foreign-currency shortages. Power & Industry Strain: The Guiteras thermoelectric plant is again out of the system after a boiler economizer failure, with the operator citing hundreds of failing tubes and repeated breakdowns. Food Crisis: In Ciego de Ávila, flour limits are cutting bread availability to “two days” of coverage in May, forcing bakeries to use emergency measures like wood-fired ovens. Health & Daily Hardship: A New York Times report links Cuba’s garbage buildup to dengue and chikungunya spread as waste collection collapses. Regional Trade Pivot: Cuba signed an EAEU joint action plan for 2026–2030, signaling continued efforts to diversify partners amid U.S. pressure.

Energy & Daily Survival: In Santiago de Cuba, residents say they’re forced to cook with charcoal or chopped firewood as fuel shortages and blackouts worsen under Trump’s pressure campaign, with health impacts mounting. Power Crisis & Public Health: A Cuban TV director describes “dying alive” conditions from outages, broken infrastructure, and stalled repairs that leave clinics without power and medicines at risk. US Sanctions & GAESA: The US Treasury sanctions GAESA, calling it a military-run economic engine that controls large parts of Cuba’s economy and thrives on opaque aid flows. Telecom Rumor Control: Cuba’s communications ministry denies a supposed daily 3-hour mobile internet limit, while acknowledging energy strain via solar installations. Food Aid: Donated powdered milk reaches Cuba as shortages deepen, prioritizing young children and pregnant women. Tourism Shock: Canada’s Air Canada adds flights to Jamaica as Cuba’s absence grows in Canadian schedules. Migration & Enforcement: US CBP fines a traveler for hidden plant cuttings; Brazil arrests a driver for trafficking nine Cuban migrants. Geopolitical Risk: Former US intelligence officials warn escalation with Cuba could trigger a humanitarian and migration crisis.

Tourism Under Sanctions Pressure: Canadian hotel operator Blue Diamond Resorts says it will stop operating and marketing in Cuba, citing “operational limitations” and the strained tourist market—another hit to an already battered sector as U.S. secondary sanctions target GAESA-linked businesses. Energy Crisis Watch: Cuba’s Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant is again offline after a “lack of raw water,” with authorities estimating 3–4 days for repairs; critics point to repeated outages and mounting system fragility. Education Impact: UNESCO warns Cuban classrooms are at risk as blackouts and fuel shortages disrupt attendance and learning, while local media frames the crisis through the blockade narrative. Currency Pressure: The informal USD rate in Cuba hits a new record—580 CUP—continuing May’s steep depreciation trend. Biotech & Health: Cuba announces Vaxira, a therapeutic lung-cancer vaccine aimed at training the immune system to attack tumors, highlighting continued innovation despite sanctions. Geopolitics & Security: A rare U.S.-Cuba military meeting near Guantánamo focuses on base perimeter security, amid heightened tensions and an energy embargo. Regional Solidarity: China pledges continued support for Cuba’s economic survival, including livelihood assistance, as sanctions deepen the crisis.

U.S.-Cuba Military Contact: U.S. Southern Command said Marine Gen. Francis Donovan met Cuban Gen. Roberto Legrá Sotolongo and other senior officers at the Guantanamo perimeter for a “brief exchange on operational security,” following CIA Director John Ratcliffe’s Havana outreach earlier this month—while Havana framed the talks as mutually agreed and aimed at keeping communication open. Energy & Daily Cost Pressure: Cuba’s power reliability stayed shaky as the Antonio Guiteras plant disconnected again after a boiler leak, underlining how blackouts remain a lived economic drag; meanwhile, the informal currency market showed the dollar at a new high around 575 CUP and the euro near 645 CUP, signaling worsening purchasing power. Sanctions, Education, and Food Access: UNESCO warned Cuba’s education is at risk from the energy crisis tied to the U.S. blockade; separate reporting also highlighted shortages hitting basic needs like flour and bread. Cuba’s Negotiation Leverage in Focus: A report says Raul Castro’s grandson “Raulito” is emerging as a key figure in U.S.-Cuba talks, while U.S. prosecutors reiterated steps to bring Raul Castro into a Miami court process. Local Coping Economy: In Havana, barbers offered free cuts amid the crisis, reflecting how small services are adapting as inflation and outages squeeze household budgets.