Overview
- Cuban energy officials said the national grid was largely reconnected after a collapse that cut electricity to roughly 10 million people, with phased service returning across provinces.
- President Donald Trump said he could “take” Cuba and vowed the U.S. would act “very soon,” echoing earlier remarks about a possible “friendly takeover.”
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Cuba needs “new people in charge,” as U.S. officials press for political prisoners’ release and broader reforms in exchange for easing sanctions.
- U.S. actions since January, including a national emergency enabling tariffs on fuel suppliers, have sharply curtailed oil shipments to Cuba and deepened fuel shortages.
- President Miguel Díaz‑Canel confirmed contacts with U.S. representatives and promised “impregnable” resistance to any external aggression, while hospitals and services report strain from recurring outages.