Russian vessels docked in capital Havana.

Foreign Ministry 7 June announced four Russian vessels would “pay an official visit” to port in Havana 12-17 June, emphasising that none of them carried nuclear weapons and that “their stop-over in our country does not represent any threat to the region”. U.S. officials played down significance of their arrival, though U.S. submarine 13 June entered Guantanamo Bay in “routine port visit”; Canadian patrol vessel 14-17 June also conducted port visit to Havana. Reasons for visit remained unclear, though some noted actions came weeks after U.S. President Biden authorised limited use of U.S. weapons on Russian soil to defend Ukraine’s Kharkiv region, which prompted Russian President Putin 5 June to threaten “asymmetric response” (see Russia). 

U.S. removed Cuba from list of countries not fully cooperating on counterterrorism efforts. 

U.S. State Department 15 May removed Cuba from list of countries deemed uncooperative on counterterrorism efforts, known as Not Fully Cooperating Countries (NFCC) list; other countries include North Korea, Iran, Syria and Venezuela. Justifying decision, State Department cited resumption of law enforcement cooperation between Washington and Havana in 2023, and Colombia’s decision to suspend arrest warrants for National Liberation Army commanders living in Cuba (meaning Havana was no longer refusing to collaborate with Bogotá on extradition requests). Cuba, however, remains designated as a state sponsor of terrorism. FM Bruno Rodríguez same day welcomed removal from NFCC list but urged U.S. to end “Cuba’s arbitrary and unjust inclusion in the list of State sponsors of terrorism”.

Protests broke out in Cuba amid electricity and food shortages.

Demonstrators 17 March took to streets in at least five locations across Cuba, including second biggest city Santiago de Cuba, in response to prolonged power outages and food shortages. Protests were largest since anti-govt demonstrations erupted in July 2021 over worsening economic crisis and govt’s handling of COVID-19 pandemic. U.S. Embassy in Cuba 17 March urged govt “to respect the human rights of the protestors and address the legitimate needs of the Cuban people”. Foreign ministry 18 March summoned U.S. chargé d’affaires over comments and pointed to decades-long U.S. trade embargo in fuelling Cuba’s “difficult economic situation”. President Diaz-Canel, meanwhile, called for calm and accused “mediocre politicians and social media terrorists” in U.S. state of Florida of provoking unrest; U.S. dismissed allegations as “absurd”. Some analysts fear that deteriorating living conditions, including extensive power rationing, and poor economic outlook could fuel more protests in coming months.

Security forces cracked down on largest anti-govt protests in decades amid worsening economic crisis and COVID-19 pandemic. Thousands 11 July protested across country including in capital Havana and Santiago city, calling for President Díaz-Canel to step down; demonstrators voiced anger over shortages of food and medicines, restriction of civil liberties and authorities’ handling of COVID-19 pandemic amid record surge in cases; security forces accused protesters of looting and vandalising shops, and rights group Cubalex reported 100 protesters, activists and journalists detained nationwide. Díaz-Canel next day blamed protests on “economic asphyxiation” from U.S., said U.S.-financed “counter-revolutionaries” were fomenting unrest. U.S. President Biden 12 July said U.S. “stands firmly with the people of Cuba” in their quest for “freedom from an authoritarian regime”, and Mexican President López Obrador same day called on U.S. to “suspend the blockade of Cuba” as “humanitarian gesture”. Renewed protest 12 July erupted in Havana suburb of La Guinera, leaving one dead and several injured, including security forces officers. Internet watchdog NetBlocks 13 July said govt had restricted access to social media and messaging platforms, while Conference of Catholic Bishops of Cuba same day defended demonstrators’ right to “publicly express” needs, urging govt to listen. Díaz-Canel next day acknowledged for first time shortcomings in govt’s handling of shortages. Thousands 17 July attended govt-organised rally in Havana to support Cuban revolution and denounce U.S. embargo. Cuban Institute for the Freedom of Expression and the Press mid-July said at least 47 journalists had been arrested since protests started; judicial authorities said 59 people had been tried by 24 July for taking part in protests, while Cubalex estimated that nearly 700 had been arrested by 26 July, 157 of whom had been released. U.S. 22 July imposed sanctions, including asset freezes and travel bans, on Security Minister Gen. Alvaro López Mier and a special forces unit for alleged human rights violations during protests.

Dramatic improvement in U.S.-Cuban relations with U.S. move 17 Dec to normalise ties, and possibility of end to decades-long U.S. embargo of the island, set to transform political relations across hemisphere.