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Tag: Havana

  • US Assessing Drone Risks from Cuba: New Report

    US Assessing Drone Risks from Cuba: New Report

    A vintage car passes by images of the late Cuban President Fidel Castro, Cuba’s former President Raul Castro, and current President Miguel Diaz-Canel on a billboard in Havana, May 15, 2026. — Reuters

    – Cuba’s foreign minister dismisses reports and accuses the U.S. of making false claims.
    – Cuba claims the U.S. is unjustifiably scheming for its next conflict.
    – Cuban officials assert that they do not threaten or seek war, as stated by Rodriguez.

    Cuba reportedly has acquired more than 300 military drones and has recently been discussing plans to deploy them against the Guantanamo Bay U.S. military base, American military ships, and possibly even targets in Florida, according to classified intelligence sources cited by Axios on Sunday.

    The story emerges amid rising tensions between Washington and Havana, with speculation increasing that the U.S. is contemplating military intervention on the island. U.S. officials are particularly concerned about advancements in drone warfare and the presence of Iranian military advisors in Havana, Axios reported, quoting a senior U.S. official.

    Since 2023, Havana has been importing attack drones from Russia and Iran and is intent on acquiring more, according to U.S. officials. In response, Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez accused the U.S. of unfounded plotting, reiterating that his country aims for peace and is prepared to defend itself against external threats, invoking the UN Charter’s recognition of the right to self-defense.

    The report coincides with a recent visit to Havana by CIA Director John Ratcliffe, who warned Cuban officials against engaging in hostilities. Ratcliffe emphasized that Cuba should no longer serve as a platform for adversaries pushing hostile agendas in the hemisphere. The island has been embroiled in a standoff with U.S. administrations since the 1960s, with Florida hosting a significant Cuban exile community.

    Earlier this month, President Trump declared that the U.S. would take control of Cuba “almost immediately,” suggesting it might be the next target following U.S. actions against Venezuela’s long-standing leader Nicolas Maduro. Reports indicate that U.S. authorities are considering indicting Raul Castro, Fidel Castro’s 94-year-old brother.

  • Cuba Reestablishes Power, Restoring Much of Havana’s Grid

    Cuba Reestablishes Power, Restoring Much of Havana’s Grid

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    A couple of Cubans observed walking along a street during a nationwide blackout caused by a power grid failure in Havana on March 15, 2025. — AFP
    A couple of Cubans walk on a street during a nationwide blackout caused by a grid failure in Havana on March 15, 2025. — AFP

    • Nearly two days of a nationwide power outage affected 10 million people.
    • The grid operator confirmed that the country’s two largest oil-powered plants are back online.
    • Power has been restored to about two-thirds of densely populated Havana.

    By late Sunday, Cuba had successfully reestablished its national electrical grid, bringing electricity back to much of Havana after a nearly two-day outage that left 10 million people without power.

    The local electric company in Havana reported on Sunday night that nearly two-thirds of its customers had their power restored, with expectations for more improvements overnight.

    Neighborhoods across the city erupted in cheers as lights flickered back on following two long days of darkness.

    The grid failure occurred on Friday evening when a transmission line at a substation in Havana shorted out, triggering a widespread shutdown of power generation across the island.

    Since then, most of Havana, a bustling metropolis and vital tourist destination, had been in darkness, causing significant disruptions to commerce and forcing most restaurants to close while streetlights went dark in a city of two million.

    By late Sunday, the grid operator announced that the two largest oil-fired power plants in the country, Felton and Antonio Guiteras, were back in operation, representing a crucial step toward restoring power across the island.

    Power also reached the Pinar del Río province—Cuba’s westernmost area and the last to be restored—just before sundown on Sunday, according to officials.

    This grid failure signifies the fourth national blackout Cuba has experienced since October.

    Last year, the aged oil-fired power plants faced an acute crisis as fuel imports from Venezuela, Russia, and Mexico dwindled.

    Even prior to the grid failure on Friday, many areas on the island were subjected to daily blackouts lasting 20 hours or longer.

    While progress was made in restoring electricity on Sunday, officials acknowledged they were generating only about one-third of the usual daily demand, leaving many residents still without power.

    To ensure safe conditions for students, schools in Pinar del Río, Artemisa, and Mayabeque provinces in western Cuba will remain closed until Tuesday, as announced by the education ministry.

    The Cuban government attributes the escalating energy crisis to a U.S. trade embargo from the Cold War era as well as recent sanctions imposed by former President Donald Trump, who reinforced restrictions on the communist government, pledging to maintain a robust policy against the longstanding adversary.

    In an effort to mitigate reliance on outdated oil-fired power generation, the government is committed to developing large solar farms with assistance from China.

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