Cuban President Addresses Energy Crisis, Security Issues, and U.S. Talks at Press Briefing

Mar 15, 2026 at 01:26 PM

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Lanka Leader

Miguel Díaz-Canel, President of Cuba, addressed reporters on Friday(13) about key domestic challenges and foreign relations, including ongoing discussions with the United States aimed at resolving bilateral disputes.

During the press briefing in Havana, the Cuban leader said the talks between the two countries seek mechanisms to address long-standing disagreements while respecting sovereignty, independence, and self-determination.

Díaz-Canel also spoke about the country’s worsening energy situation, which he attributed to what he described as an “energy siege” imposed by the current U.S. administration. According to the president, the restrictions are intended to weaken Cuba’s economy and destabilize the government.

The president revealed that the island has not received fuel shipments for three months. Cuba currently relies mainly on domestic crude oil and photovoltaic energy to generate electricity, he said, warning that the limited supply has made the national power system unstable.

As a result, power outages have increased, affecting production, communications, medical services, education, transportation, and daily life across the country.

To cope with the disruptions, the Ministries of Education and Higher Education have introduced alternative learning methods, including blended learning and community-based study spaces. Workplaces have also adjusted operating hours to adapt to the ongoing energy shortage.

Díaz-Canel noted that several allied nations and international organizations have provided support during the crisis. He highlighted assistance from Mexico and thanked its president, Claudia Sheinbaum, as well as the Mexican people for their solidarity.

The Cuban government, he said, distributes donated resources primarily to schools, communities, and social services under a system of audits and monitoring designed to ensure transparency. Representatives from foreign organizations and embassies are involved in verifying the use of the resources.

The president also addressed a recent attempted armed infiltration in Villa Clara Province, which authorities say aimed to attack military units and social institutions in order to spread fear and destabilize the country. According to Díaz-Canel, those involved admitted their participation and acknowledged firing on a Cuban Border Patrol vessel. Two suspects are listed on the country’s national registry of individuals and entities designated as terrorists.

Cuban authorities are awaiting a possible visit by experts from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), who may work alongside the Interior Ministry to help clarify the incident, he added.

In another announcement, the president said the government had released 51 prisoners as part of what he described as the “humanist vocation” of the Cuban Revolution. The measure applies to individuals who demonstrated good behavior while serving their sentences, in accordance with Cuban law.

Díaz-Canel also commented on the growing number of Cuban nationals living abroad, saying the government has a responsibility to engage with them, listen to their concerns, and create opportunities for participation in national affairs.