In brief
During a meeting in Artemisa province on 5 November 2026, President Diaz‑Canel urged Cuban leaders to deepen defense readiness amid the concluding stages of the Moncada 2026 exercise. He highlighted the need for Greater autonomy in Defense Zones, stronger economic and productive capacity, and clear population protection strategies. Key officials such as the Assembly President Esteban Lazo, Communist Party secretary Roberto Morales, and commanders of the Armed Forces and Interior Ministry were present to support these directives.
In a meeting held in Artemisa province on 5 November 2026, Cuban President Miguel Diaz‑Canel called for a continued focus on national defense as the country wrapped up the final phase of its Moncada 2026 strategic exercise. The speech, delivered to the Provincial Defense Council, urged leaders of the country’s defense zones to further enhance their preparedness and to deepen the autonomy of these structures.
Diaz‑Canel, who also presides over the National Defense Council, highlighted that the exercise was designed to improve the cohesion of command and leadership bodies, military forces, and the territorial defense system across all levels of the economy. He asked that every locality have a clear understanding of how to protect its population in the event of an external threat.
She also underscored the importance of food production by calling for the most efficient use of available land through popular mobilization and reiterating the need for all parties to work together to achieve food self‑sufficiency. The president’s remarks pointed to the necessity of addressing water‑supply issues without allowing unresolved problems to accumulate, urging officials to be persistent in finding solutions.
At the meeting were several prominent figures from Cuba’s political and security apparatus: Esteban Lazo, President of the National Assembly of People’s Power; Roberto Morales, Secretary of Organization of the Communist Party of Cuba’s Central Committee; Alvaro Lopez, head of the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces; and Lazaro Alberto Slvarez, head of the Ministry of the Interior. Their presence underscored the high priority that Havana places on national defense and the cross‑sector collaboration required for the Moncada 2026 exercise.
The President described the exercise’s goal as training leaders to confront any form of aggression against Cuba. He linked this training with efforts to boost the economic and productive capacity of the defense zones, noting that stronger autonomy would allow the zones to respond more effectively to emergencies while also maintaining economic resilience.
The message behind the call to continued preparation was that the country must not become complacent as the final drills approach. Diaz‑Canel’s emphasis on autonomy, productivity, protection of the populace, and coordination across ministries highlighted a comprehensive national defense strategy that intertwines military readiness with industrial and agricultural development.
The announcement also served to remind the broader Cuban population that the state, alongside provincial defense councils, would coordinate its efforts to maintain stability and respond to internal demands, especially in agriculture and water supply. The President’s emphasis on localised action was meant to empower regional officers to manage resources and protect their communities, thereby improving the overall resilience of the nation.
As the country takes its final steps through the Moncada 2026 programme, the emphasis remains on preparedness, autonomy, and the protection of a population that faces the potential of external aggression. The clear directives from the President reinforce the view that Cuban authorities intend to maintain a state of readiness that can act swiftly in situations where national security might be threatened.
