Amidst enduring power outages that can last up to 20 hours and a severe water crisis that left over half a million Havana residents without regular access in July, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel chose this Friday to visit the Alamar Este defense zone. This area, one of the most affected by the water shortage, became the backdrop for his declaration that "the primary focus remains defense."
The visit coincided with the so-called "National Defense Day," a military ritual observed every Friday since the regime declared 2026 as the "Year of Defense Preparation." In his capacity as president of the National Defense Council, Díaz-Canel reaffirmed that "the threat of aggression persists." He justified the military emphasis by pointing to "continued offensive statements this week from the United States government and its Secretary of State against our nation," as reported by the Presidential office.
Accompanying him were key figures such as Esteban Lazo Hernández, president of the National Assembly; Roberto Morales Ojeda, secretary of Organization of the Communist Party's Central Committee; Generals Álvaro López Miera and Lázaro Alberto Álvarez Casas, ministers of the Armed Forces and the Interior Ministry, respectively; General Amado Ricardo Guerra, Secretary of the Council of Ministers; General Ernest Feijóo Eiró, chief of the Western Army; and Liván Izquierdo Alonso, president of the Provincial Defense Council. The high command gathered to inspect an area where, according to official reports, water supply remains a "significant issue."
Defense Amidst Domestic Challenges
The Alamar Este Zone Defense Council covers over nine square kilometers, housing approximately 36,000 residents and comprising more than 40 production and defense brigades. It also boasts 85 hectares of land dedicated to food production. Díaz-Canel praised the work done there as "high quality and thorough," emphasizing the need for the populace to understand "where they are protected" and "how to reach those places" in the event of an attempted invasion by "the enemy," alluding to Washington. The water crisis, it seems, is deemed secondary.
This warlike rhetoric is neither novel nor incidental. On the same day, Díaz-Canel marked the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks by accusing the United States of "state terrorism" against Cuba, claiming the island has endured over 60 years of diverse terrorist attacks, resulting in more than 3,400 deaths and 2,099 injuries, and is facing a "genocidal plan to starve the people."
U.S. Relations and Economic Woes
The comments that have so vexed the Cuban leader come from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who recently stated in Colombia that the U.S. has imposed "the strongest sanctions in history" against Cuba, describing the island as a "humanitarian disaster" with a non-functional economic model, according to Infobae. Earlier in September, Rubio was even more direct: "Trump and I are committed to ensuring Cuba will be free."
On September 9, the State Department warned the Cuban regime to "look at Maduro's example," in response to threats from a MININT general. Spokeswoman Juliana Camacho asserted, "The Trump Administration will not stand idly by in the face of those who act recklessly and threaten or seek to harm the United States and its citizens."
While the regime sharpens its war rhetoric, Cuba’s economy is suffering a decline of about 15% between 2024 and 2025, with CEPAL projecting an additional 6.5% GDP contraction this year; a figure that independent analyses suggest could be even higher.
The dissident response to Díaz-Canel's stance has been unequivocal: Rosa María Payá declared that "the only threat to Cuba is the dictatorship."
Exploring Current Tensions between Cuba and the U.S.
What prompted Díaz-Canel's emphasis on defense?
Díaz-Canel's focus on defense is a response to perceived ongoing threats of aggression from the United States, as well as offensive statements from the U.S. government and its Secretary of State.
How has the water crisis affected Havana residents?
The water crisis has left over half a million residents in Havana without regular access to water, significantly impacting their daily lives and contributing to the mounting domestic challenges in the city.
What is the current economic situation in Cuba?
Cuba's economy is in decline, with a decrease of around 15% between 2024 and 2025, and an additional 6.5% contraction forecasted for this year. Independent analyses suggest the decline could be even more severe.