On Friday, during Cuba's National Defense Day, Miguel Díaz-Canel arrived in military olive green attire at the Cuban Institute of Cinematographic Art and Industry (ICAIC) in the iconic 23rd and 12th corner of Havana's Plaza de la Revolución municipality. His mission was to assess the Colón Nuevo Vedado Zone Defense Council (CDZ), as reported by the Cuban News Agency.
Unlike expectations of a military official or general, Díaz-Canel was greeted by Alexis Triana Hernández, who heads the ICAIC and, since May 2026, leads this local defense council housed within the same cinematic institution.
This scenario vividly captures the trajectory enforced by the Cuban regime this year: a cultural entity transformed into a defense outpost, with its leader presented to the head of state not as a cinematic director, but as a territorial defense commander.
Triana Hernández briefed Díaz-Canel on a region spanning approximately two square kilometers, accommodating over 15,000 residents across 12 districts, with 28 Production and Defense Brigades—13 of which are in economically strategic centers—and a battalion of Territorial Troop Militias.
Addressing Critical Infrastructure Issues
The cultural commissioner and CDZ president acknowledged urgent local challenges to Díaz-Canel, highlighting irregular water supply from Palatino and Cuenca Sur sources, alongside electrical transformer failures as the primary energy sector grievance.
Triana Hernández explicitly linked these deficiencies to defense readiness, asserting, "For us, defense involves whether water reaches us, if the power supply stabilizes, and how we tackle the challenge that over 40% of our defense zone's population is over 65 years old."
Endorsement of Militarized Governance
Díaz-Canel praised the efforts, framing them within his doctrine of perpetual militarization: "This demonstrates how, by responsibly undertaking defense tasks, operating from wartime structures during peacetime, an institution can also play a pivotal role in defense zones. Imagine what can be achieved."
Accompanying the president were Esteban Lazo Hernández, president of the National Assembly and Council of State; Generals Álvaro López Miera, Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces; Lázaro Alberto Álvarez Casas, Minister of the Interior; and Major General Amado Ricardo Guerra, Secretary of the Council of Ministers, among other high-ranking officials.
Military Preparation Campaign
The ICAIC visit is part of a broader military readiness campaign personally led by Díaz-Canel, who has overseen defense zones across Havana in at least eleven sessions throughout 2026, as part of the so-called "Year of Preparedness for Defense."
Triana Hernández's appointment to ICAIC in October 2023 was fraught with controversy, with over a hundred Cuban filmmakers publicly opposing his selection as emblematic of an authoritarian administration. Three years on, this same official appears on Canal Caribe not as a national cinema promoter but as a defense zone chief welcoming the leader in combat attire.
Concluding the visit, Díaz-Canel suggested sharing the CDZ Colón Nuevo Vedado experiences with neighboring zones of similar demographics—high density, urbanization, and aging—to develop replicable work models in the capital.
Insight into Cuba's Militarization and Cultural Transformation
What is the significance of Díaz-Canel's visit to ICAIC?
Díaz-Canel's visit highlights the Cuban regime's strategy of integrating cultural institutions into defense roles, underscoring a shift towards militarization in various sectors.
Who is Alexis Triana Hernández?
Alexis Triana Hernández is the president of the ICAIC and the head of the Colón Nuevo Vedado Zone Defense Council, reflecting the dual roles of cultural leadership and defense management.
How did the Cuban filmmakers react to Triana Hernández's appointment?
His appointment was met with opposition from over a hundred Cuban filmmakers, who viewed it as a move towards authoritarian control over the cultural sector.