Miguel Díaz-Canel remains Cuba’s president and Communist Party first secretary as of October 2026, actively directing economic reforms, National Assembly sessions, and responses to chronic shortages and external pressure. His current five-year term extends into 2028, though U.S. policy under the Trump administration has intensified calls for leadership change and fueled speculation about possible successors tied to the Castro family. Domestic economic strains, including fuel and food shortfalls, have prompted internal debates over policy adjustments, yet official proceedings show continued consolidation of authority through appointments and legislative actions. No formal succession process or removal mechanism has advanced, leaving trader assessments centered on whether sustained external leverage or internal elite shifts could accelerate an earlier transition.