Fidel Antonio Castro Smirnov, grandson of Fidel Castro and Cuban scientific researcher, participated this Sunday in the Sovintern conference on "21st Century Socialism" held in Moscow to advocate for Cuba's commitment to science and the future, invoking his grandfather's legacy amid the worst energy crisis the island has faced in decades.
In his speech before more than 300 delegates from 70 countries, Castro Smirnov led the Spanish-language interventions of the Latin American table and drew a direct line between the shortage of fuel and the collapse of basic services in Cuba.
"We really need fuel now for the economy of the country to function. Not just for power generation, but for hospitals, to move ambulances, for schools to operate, for universities to function, and for our research centers to work," he stated.
The dictator's grandson appealed to Fidel Castro's scientific legacy to justify the regime's stance on the crisis: "They plan aggressions, and we plan, for example, vaccines, and we continue to do science under such difficult conditions, but out of a commitment to the future, as we learned from Fidel."
Castro Smirnov also noted that his presence in Moscow had an additional objective, "to strengthen scientific ties between our peoples," referring to Cuba and Russia.
The speech included a direct denunciation of the U.S. administration for the pressures that have worsened the oil shortages on the island: "The Trump administration and Marco Rubio have threatened the entire world with sanctions if they sell us oil. What justification is there for this collective punishment?"
The context surrounding those words is devastating for the Cuban people. Following the capture of Nicolás Maduro on January 3, Venezuela suspended its oil shipments, which accounted for between 80% and 90% of Cuba's imports. Mexico also cut its supplies on January 27. Cuba needs between 90,000 and 110,000 barrels daily, but it only produces 40,000, leading to blackouts of up to 20 to 40 consecutive hours in large areas of the country.
Russia has responded with emergency shipments. The tanker Anatoly Kolodkin arrived on March 31 with 730,000 barrels, and the Universal vessel is heading towards the Caribbean, expected to arrive this Tuesday with 251,000 barrels of diesel. Russian oil has provided a respite for the Cuban electrical system, although it is insufficient to resolve the structural deficit.
Castro Smirnov explicitly expressed gratitude for this support: "In these very difficult times for the Cuban people, we have the solidarity of the Russian people and government, for which we are deeply grateful."
It is not the first time that Fidel's grandson has appeared in international forums defending the regime. In September 2025, he re-emerged publicly with the statement that "Cuba continues to be a medical power," and in August of that year, he was seen in Chile with an orthopedic boot representing the island at another international forum.
The speech is set within the framework of the Year of the Centenary of Fidel Castro, officially proclaimed by Cuba for 2026, with celebrations planned from August 13 to December 4.
Castro Smirnov concluded his speech with a promise of resilience that encapsulates the regime's stance on the crisis: "In Cuba, we will continue to resist, we will continue to fight, confident that we will achieve victory sooner rather than later."
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