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Russian President Vladimir Putin assured Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez that Moscow will celebrate alongside Havana the centenary of the birth of dictator Fidel Castro this year, in a statement that reinforces the political alliance between the two governments amidst new tensions with the United States.
"Yes, by the way, this year we will celebrate the centenary of Fidel Castro, and we will do it together," Putin stated during the meeting held at the Kremlin, according to a transcript published by the official newspaper Periódico Victoria, from the Isle of Youth.
The phrase, brief yet loaded with symbolism, came to light days after the visit of the Cuban Foreign Minister to Moscow, set against a backdrop of new sanctions from the Donald Trump administration and the severe economic and energy crisis facing the island.
During the meeting, Putin reiterated Russia's historic support for the Cuban regime. “We have always stood by Cuba in its fight for independence, for the right to choose its own path of development, and we have always supported the Cuban people,” he declared. He also described the new sanctions imposed by Washington as “unacceptable” and emphasized that the stance of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is “open, clear, and unequivocal.”
The leader also requested that Rodríguez convey "the best wishes" to both Miguel Díaz-Canel and Army General Raúl Castro, in a gesture that reinforces Moscow's political recognition of the historical leadership in Cuba.
The visit of the Cuban chancellor occurred against a critical backdrop on the island, marked by prolonged blackouts, fuel shortages, and severe restrictions on transportation and productive activities.
Just one day after the meeting, it was revealed that the tanker Sea Horse is headed to Havana with nearly 200,000 barrels of Russian diesel, according to data cited by Bloomberg and maritime intelligence firm Kpler Ltd. The shipment, transferred off the coast of Cyprus, tests the energy blockade enforced by Washington.
Recently, the President of the United States, Donald Trump, signed an executive order declaring a "national emergency" in response to what Washington perceives as a threat to its security, tightening restrictions and announcing tariffs on countries that supply oil to Cuba.
In this geopolitical landscape, the mention of the centenary of Fidel Castro is no minor detail. Beyond diplomatic rhetoric, the gesture aims to symbolically reinforce the alliance between Moscow and Havana at a time when the Cuban regime is seeking external support to sustain itself amid economic and political pressure.
While the Kremlin reaffirms its historical support and celebrates the figure of the late leader, the population in Cuba faces a daily crisis that cannot be resolved with statements or shared anniversaries.
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