In this edition, we launch the first in a series of analytical deep dives on Cuba’s pending but necessary transformation. Over the coming weeks, we will examine the structural challenges facing the island and the conditions required for durable change and recovery. Each installment will draw on comparative evidence, economic analysis, and lessons from reform experiences in other countries to clarify both the scale of Cuba’s crisis and its paths to recovery.

Our Quick Takes section highlights signs of mounting economic strain on the island: rising U.S. fuel exports to the private sector, Russian oil shipments as temporary relief, a less supportive regional environment, a new remittance channel shaped by uncertainty and low public trust, new agricultural marketing rules, and the government’s latest economic program.

Lastly, Recommended Readings brings together two works that converge on a central point: Cuba’s crisis has entered a deeper, more systemic stage. Both underscore that, beyond external pressures, internal factors—ranging from the erosion of the centralized model to persistent macroeconomic imbalances and weakening social protections—are increasingly shaping the country’s trajectory.