Raúl Castro made a public appearance this Thursday during the official ceremony to receive the remains of the 32 Cuban military personnel who died in Venezuela on January 3, as part of the operation that resulted in the capture of Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces.
The event took place at dawn, at the José Martí International Airport in Havana, where an ATR 42-500 aircraft from Cubana de Aviación arrived with the coffins of the soldiers, described by the official press as "fallen in the line of duty."
At the welcoming ceremony were present Raúl Castro, the ruler Miguel Díaz-Canel, and the veteran communist leader José Ramón Machado Ventura, along with high-ranking officials from the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR) and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINREX).
Raúl Castro, in mourning and silence
Castro, 94 years old, appeared in a mourning uniform, with black insignia, and did not speak a word throughout the ceremony.
Her presence conveyed a political message of continuity within the military leadership at a time when the country is experiencing a severe internal crisis and increasing international isolation following the events in Venezuela.
Images broadcasted by state television showed him serious, with a composed expression, observing the procession of coffins draped with the national flag. Beside him, Díaz-Canel greeted the officers in charge of the military protocol, while Machado Ventura remained still, in a state of mourning.
Official display and political symbolism
The Cuban regime organized a extensive military and propaganda display surrounding the arrival of the remains. On the tarmac, a cordon of FAR troops paid funeral honors while a military band played the national anthem. The government described the repatriation as an “act of patriotism and revolutionary loyalty.”
After the ceremony, the coffins were transported along Avenida Rancho Boyeros to the headquarters of the Ministry of Revolutionary Armed Forces (MINFAR), where a wake was set up for the public tribute starting at 10:00 a.m.
Official sources confirmed that institutions, workplaces, and political organizations were mobilized early on to accompany the funeral procession. At various points in the capital, groups of students and workers awaited the passage of the caravan, amidst a somber and controlled atmosphere.
A comeback rich in meaning
Raúl Castro's reappearance comes just two weeks after Nicolás Maduro's fall and the collapse of the energy alliance with Venezuela, leaving Cuba in an extremely vulnerable position.
The presence of the General of the Army at this ceremony aims to convey an image of leadership and continuity amid uncertainty.
Neither Castro nor Díaz-Canel made statements to the press.
Filed under: