Over the weekend, Miguel Díaz-Canel granted an exclusive interview to Russia Today (RT) during the V International Digital Communication Colloquium held in Havana. This provided him a platform to lay out what he described as the Cuban regime's "strategy" to cope with the intense pressure from the Trump administration.
The interview comes at a time when Cuba is grappling with a severe energy crisis. Power outages are increasingly widespread, with some areas experiencing blackouts exceeding 30 hours a day, and a generation deficit surpassing 2,000 megawatts.
The Core of Díaz-Canel's Plan
In his discussion, Díaz-Canel outlined six main components of his alleged strategy: economic decentralization, granting full autonomy to state-owned enterprises and municipalities, improving relationships between the state and non-state sectors, revising the foreign direct investment law, transitioning to renewable energy, and boosting food production through agroecology.
Addressing the Energy Crisis
Touching on the energy crisis, Díaz-Canel claimed investments were made in over 1,000 megawatts in solar parks by 2025. "Last year, we invested in more than 1,000 megawatts in solar parks, which are now providing 51% of daytime energy. Without this, we would be facing a more severe situation," he stated.
In response to fuel shortages, he pointed to agroecology as a food production solution. "You might say, what a contradiction, now you lack fuel, now you have more limitations, but we've turned to agroecology," he remarked, implicitly acknowledging the energy blockade the island faces.
Reforming the State Apparatus
Díaz-Canel also talked about resizing the state apparatus before mid-2026. "We are considering a reshaping of the entire state, administrative, and business apparatus, meaning reducing bureaucracy. We're seeking flatter, more efficient, more dynamic structures that enable more dynamic governance," he declared.
The trouble is that none of these components are new. Since 2023, the regime has been making similar promises without tangible results. The "Government Program" for 2025 and previous years contained nearly identical commitments under the slogan of "correcting distortions and re-energizing the economy." In April 2026, the Center for Cuban Economic Studies labeled the model as "exhausted and lacking effective levers."
Economic Realities and Challenges
The official narrative is contradicted by data: Cuba's economy contracted by 5% in 2025, accumulating a decline of over 15% since 2020. External projections estimate an additional 7.2% drop for 2026, compared to the 1% growth projected by the government itself.
Official inflation was 14.07% in 2025, while unofficial estimates put the impact on the basic basket at up to 70%. The average salary hovers around 6,000 Cuban pesos per month, equivalent to roughly 13 dollars at the informal exchange rate.
Geopolitical and Economic Context
The urgency of the discourse is underscored by a harsh context. The capture of Nicolás Maduro in January 2026 cut off between 26,000 and 35,000 barrels per day of Venezuelan oil—80-90% of Cuba's imports. Executive Order 14380, signed by Trump on January 29, imposed tariffs of up to 50% on supplying countries, forcing Mexico to halt shipments.
The choice of RT as a platform is no coincidence. Díaz-Canel routinely uses this Russian propaganda channel to project narratives of resistance to sympathetic audiences, rather than being accountable to Cubans suffering from blackouts.
In May 2025, on the same platform, he described Russia's military response in Ukraine as "dignified." The digital propaganda event organized by the regime itself was held under the theme "Patria con Fidel," in tribute to the centennial of dictator Fidel Castro's birth.
While Díaz-Canel repeats his reform promises on Russian television, the Cuban electrical system needs at least $6.612 billion to restore its generation capacity, a sum the regime neither possesses nor has prospects of acquiring.
Understanding Cuba's Economic and Energy Challenges
What are the main components of Díaz-Canel's strategy?
His strategy includes economic decentralization, full autonomy for state enterprises and municipalities, improved relations between state and non-state sectors, a revised foreign investment law, a transition to renewable energy, and boosting food production through agroecology.
How severe is Cuba's current energy crisis?
Cuba is experiencing severe energy shortages with blackouts lasting over 30 hours in some areas and a generation deficit of over 2,000 megawatts.
What impact has the capture of Nicolás Maduro had on Cuba?
The capture of Maduro in January 2026 cut off a significant supply of Venezuelan oil, which constituted 80-90% of Cuba's imports, exacerbating the country's energy crisis.