On Wednesday, Miguel Diaz-Canel took to Facebook to refute claims that Cuba is a "failed state," attributing the country's severe energy crisis to what he called the "genocidal energy blockade" imposed by the United States. His comments were a direct response to statements made by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
"Cuba stands tall, it is not a failed state," Diaz-Canel declared in his official profile post, asserting that "what the spokespersons of the U.S. regime try to portray as a consequence of poor Cuban government management is actually the result of a wicked plan designed to exacerbate the people’s hardships and shortages."
This statement comes at a critical juncture for the Cuban electrical system. On Wednesday night, power outages in Cuba were expected to exceed 2,000 MW, with only 1,230 MW available to meet a demand of 3,250 MW, leaving more than half the country in the dark.
Diaz-Canel admitted that the country was short by 1,100 MW due to a lack of fuel and noted that Cuba requires at least eight fuel shipments monthly. However, between January and April 2026, only one shipment was received.
Highlighting his point, the president referenced an improvement in April when the arrival of that single shipment temporarily reduced the blackouts. "The docking of just one fuel ship, out of the eight needed per month, helped diminish the deficit," he noted.
The debate over whether Cuba is a "failed state" intensified on May 5, when Rubio criticized the Cuban regime during a White House press conference. "The only thing worse than a communist is an incompetent communist. And that's what we have: incompetent communists running that country. They don’t know how to fix it. They really don’t," stated the Secretary of State.
Rubio also dismissed claims of a specific oil embargo: "There is no oil blockade against Cuba per se. The only blockade is that the Venezuelans decided to stop giving them free oil."
While Diaz-Canel shared his message of endurance, the situation on Havana's streets painted a different picture. On Wednesday, residents of San Miguel del Padrón staged a pot-banging protest outside the municipal government building, demanding "Electricity and food!"
The previous night, a similar protest in Reparto Bahía chanted "Down with the dictatorship!" Early Wednesday, Marianao residents lit bonfires and burned trash. On Monday, Luyanó inhabitants blocked Calzada de Concha to protest power outages lasting over twenty hours.
Additionally, graffiti with "Patria y Vida" and anti-Diaz-Canel messages were found on electrical infrastructure in Arroyo Naranjo on Wednesday morning.
The Cuban Conflict Observatory recorded 1,133 protests in April 2026, marking a 29.5% increase from the previous year, with 176 documented repressive acts. The regime responded with increased militarization and at least 14 arrests in Havana since March 6 related to the pot-banging protests.
Diaz-Canel concluded his message with a pledge of resilience but also softened his tone, expressing a willingness to engage in dialogue: "Always open to dialogue on equal terms, we will continue resisting and creating, increasingly convinced that we must overcome immense challenges through our own efforts."
Understanding Cuba's Energy and Political Crisis
What is causing the energy crisis in Cuba?
Cuba's energy crisis is primarily due to a shortage of fuel, which has been attributed by the government to a "genocidal energy blockade" by the United States, although U.S. officials deny such a blockade exists.
How has the Cuban government responded to accusations of being a failed state?
Diaz-Canel has rejected the label of a "failed state," maintaining that the difficulties faced are due to external pressures rather than internal mismanagement, and expressing a commitment to resilience and dialogue.