The absence of Raúl Castro at the tribute to fallen Cuban soldiers in Venezuela has once again fueled rumors regarding his health and his permanent withdrawal from public life.
During the ceremony, held this Tuesday at the Venezuelan embassy in Havana, the main figures of the regime attended, led by Miguel Díaz-Canel, Manuel Marrero, Bruno Rodríguez, and Esteban Lazo, among other high-ranking officials of the regime. However, the elderly historic leader, aged 94, was notably absent.
The event, partially broadcast by the National Television News (NTV), displayed the signing of the condolence book by high-ranking officials, but the nonagenarian general did not appear or was mentioned among the attendees.
No message or letter was read in his name either, a detail that caught attention even within political circles close to the regime.
Since the capture of Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces on January 3rd, Castro has made no public appearances or statements.
His last known image dates back to December 2, 2025, during the event commemorating the anniversary of the Granma landing and the founding of the Armed Forces, where he appeared fragile and had difficulties walking.
Since then, the general who controlled the levers of power on the island after the death of his brother, the chief dictator, seems to have vanished from the scene... with "one foot in the stirrup."
The general's absence from a diplomatically significant event with strong military symbolism has been interpreted as a sign that his direct influence has been reduced to a minimum.
In contrast, Díaz-Canel has worked to project an image of continuity and firmness, reiterating his loyalty to the legacy of Fidel and Chávez during the signing of the condolence book.
While Havana attempts to manage the political repercussions of the fall of Chavismo in Caracas, Raúl Castro's silence highlights the definitive decline of the military patriarch and a real power vacuum that leaves the regime at its most vulnerable moment in decades.
Filed under: