Díaz-Canel urges young Cubans not to let Fidel Castro's ideas die on his centenary

The Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel called on the country's youth this Friday to keep the ideological legacy of Fidel Castro alive during the year that marks the centenary of his birth.

In a meeting with nearly a hundred young people on the eve of April 4, Díaz-Canel stated, "If Fidel and his generation did not let the ideas of the apostle die in the year of his centenary, we will not let the ideas of the commander in chief die in his centenary. And the best way to do this is by acting. The best way to do this is by participating."

Díaz-Canel also spoke to the youth about the complexities of the current moment and what he referred to as ongoing attacks from the government of the United States against the Cuban Revolution. He urged them to engage in projects related to popular participation, defense of the homeland, energy development, food production, and the "communicational and political battle."

The Cuban government had declared 2026 as the Year of the Commander's Centenary.

The event, prior to the date commemorating the 64th anniversary of the founding of the Union of Young Communists and the 65th anniversary of the José Martí Pioneer Organization, was broadcasted by Canal Caribe and shared by the official account of the Presidency of Cuba.

Among the participants were scientists, educators, doctors, engineers, artists, officials from the Armed Revolutionary Forces and the Ministry of the Interior, university students, and active-duty soldiers.

Among the special guests were young officers from the Ministry of the Interior who participated in Venezuela on January 3, when 32 Cuban soldiers perished during Operation Absolute Resolution carried out by U.S. special forces that culminated in the capture of Nicolás Maduro.

One of those officials stated at the meeting: "With the same conviction, the same bravery, and the same patriotism that we demonstrated in our tasks in Venezuela, we will do it here, wherever it may be necessary."

The project "Youth Who Are Legend" was also presented, in a context where the Union of Young Communists has reported losses of more than 15% of its membership in some provinces in recent years.