Cuba Roundup: Electricity restored, deepening bilateral ties, big steps in climate change adaptation
Cuban electricity mostly restored
Cuba’s electricity issues have mostly been resolved, with much of Havana reconnected by Sunday night, Reuters reports. A blackout that began Friday night—caused by a substation short—left over 10 million people without power, highlighting the strain on Cuba’s ageing, oil-dependent grid. It was the country’s fourth major grid collapse since October 2024. According to Travel Pulse Canada, Canada’s travel advisory warns visitors of ongoing power shortages, noting that while resorts have generators, outages may still affect service.
Project on climate change adaptation makes strides in Cuba
The “Mi Costa” project, led by Cuba’s Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment with support from national and international partners, aims to boost climate resilience along 1,300 km of Cuba’s southern coast through ecosystem-based adaptation. ACN reports that over an eight-year implementation period and 22-year operation, it covers 24 municipalities across seven provinces, offering training and workshops for officials and communities. The project focuses on climate adaptation, water and soil management, coastal ecosystems, and blue carbon initiatives in mangroves, seagrasses, peatlands, and more.
Trump administration orders deep cuts to Office of Cuba Broadcasting
President Trump ordered the shutdown of the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, which runs Radio and Television Martí, Spanish-language stations created under Reagan to promote democracy in Cuba. As reported by WPTV, the executive order also cuts back the U.S. Agency for Global Media and six other small agencies. Staff were placed on administrative leave, and the future of the Martí stations remains uncertain.
Cuban foreign minister visits Nigeria to strengthen bilateral ties
Cuba’s Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, is visiting Nigeria to strengthen bilateral ties in healthcare, education, agriculture, science and technology, and cultural exchange, according to a statement by the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The visit highlights the long-standing relationship between the two nations, rooted in cooperation and shared history, including support for anti-apartheid and liberation movements. He is expected to meet with Nigeria’s Foreign Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, to discuss further collaboration, Arise TV reports.
Trump wants 30,000 migrants held at U.S. Base in Cuba
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly considering a controversial proposal to detain up to 30,000 migrants at the U.S. naval base in Guantánamo Bay, reigniting debate over the use of the remote military facility for immigration enforcement. According to reporting by CNN’s Patrick Oppmann, the plan would represent a dramatic expansion of the base's role in U.S. immigration policy. While Guantánamo Bay is most often associated with its detention facility for terror suspects, it has also been used in the past to house migrants — most notably during the 1990s Haitian and Cuban migration crises, when thousands were temporarily held at the base.
