In brief
President Miguel Diaz‑Canel called for continued focus on national defense during the concluding phase of the "Moncada 2026" exercise. He urged greater autonomy for defense zones, economic and productive capacity, and clear population protection plans. The address highlighted food production, water supply solutions and the presence of key officials in Artemisa province.
Cuban President Miguel Diaz‑Canel called for continued focus on national defense during the concluding phase of the "Moncada 2026" strategic exercise, as he addressed officials in Artemisa province on Nov. 5, 2026.
Overview of the Moncada 2026 Exercise
The "Moncada 2026" exercise, now in its final stages nationwide, seeks to strengthen the preparedness and cohesion of command and leadership bodies, military troops, the territorial defense system, and the economy at all levels. President Diaz‑Canel, who also heads the National Defense Council, has described it as the nation's top‑priority task. According to Prensa Latina, the exercise aims to ensure that Cuba can confront any form of aggression against the nation.
Key Messages from the President
During a meeting of the Artemisa Provincial Defense Council, Diaz‑Canel emphasized the need to enhance the preparedness of those who lead the "Defense Zones." He singled out three core areas for improvement: greater autonomy for these structures, increased economic and productive capacity, and a comprehensive plan for protecting the population. In his statement, the president underscored that each locality must understand precisely how its defense responsibilities will be carried out.
Food production and water supply were cited as critical issues that must be addressed. Diaz‑Canel urged officials to make better use of available land through popular mobilization, and he asked them to solve water‑supply problems promptly, warning against the accumulation of unresolved issues. The president reported that the discourse on these topics has previously dominated national defense sessions, a claim highlighted in the Presidency’s own website announcement.
The address also noted that other members of the provincial leadership were present, including Esteban Lazo, the 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, Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces; and Lazaro Alberto Slvarez, Minister of the Interior. Their participation underscores the exercise’s cross‑institutional nature.
Challenges and Open Questions
While the president called for stronger autonomy and resilience, details on how the Autonomous Defense Zones will be structured or funded remain unknown. The feasibility of increasing local economic and productive capacities during a period of significant global supply chain disruptions was also not addressed. Moreover, the exact mechanisms for local population protection—beyond a broad statement that each area must know its role—were not elaborated.
Water‑supply solutions were stated as a priority, yet the president’s remarks contained no specifics about planned infrastructure projects or the expected timeline for resolving these issues. The absence of those details raises questions about the timeline for implementation and whether provincial resources will be sufficient to meet the objectives set out in the exercise.
As the exercise concludes, observers are left to assess how the lessons and recommendations documented in the meeting will translate into concrete policy shifts. No official follow‑up plan has been released, and the next steps for achieving the outlined autonomy, economic resilience, and population protection remain to be announced.
Across the country, Cuban officials have begun to debate the practical steps needed to meet the president’s directives. The balance between defense readiness and everyday economic constraints appears to be a topic of ongoing discussion, suggesting that the next phase of the exercise will focus heavily on turning strategy into actionable policy.
