Situation Reports

Anti-government protests opposing severe power outages across Cuba escalated, with protesters attacking a Communist Party office in the central city of Moron, 250 miles (402 kilometers) east of Havana, Reuters reported on March 14.

Russian authorities have imposed rolling mobile internet blackouts in Moscow since March 5, while allowing access only to a limited set of approved services through a whitelist system, the Financial Times reported on March 14.

U.S. President Donald Trump demanded that countries like China, Japan and South Korea participate in a naval escort mission to ensure the safe passage of oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reported on March 15.

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever said the European Union should normalize relations with Russia to restore access to cheaper energy, according to a March 14 interview with L'Echo.

Ugandan opposition leader Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, known as Bobi Wine, said he had fled Uganda after spending about two months in hiding following the disputed January 2026 general election, BBC reported on March 16.

Kazakhstan's authorities said voters approved a new constitution in a March 15 referendum with more than 87% support and turnout exceeding 73%, introducing sweeping political reforms that expand presidential authority and restructure the legislature, AP reported on March 16.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said she had discussed with the United Nations the possibility of a Black Sea grain deal-type agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and would discuss the possibility of expanding the mandate of the European Union's Red Sea naval mission to protect vessels transiting the strait, Reuters reported on March 16.

India's government is negotiating with Iran to ensure the safe transit of six liquefied petroleum gas tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, Bloomberg reported on March 16.

France held the first round of municipal elections on March 15, with the far-right National Rally retaining strongholds in Perpignan and Henin-Beaumont and advancing in southern cities such as Toulon, Nice and Marseille, Le Monde reported on March 16.

The United States expanded sanctions waivers for Venezuela, facilitating electricity and petrochemical investments and allowing fertilizer exports to the U.S. market, Reuters reported on March 13.