The Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz posted a congratulatory message on X on Sunday to the agents of the Personal Security Directorate of MININT, whom he described as "a loyal family," echoing the words used by Raúl Castro historically to refer to those who protect him.
The message, which included the hashtags #100YearsWithFidel and #RaúlIsRaúl, coincided with the 65th anniversary of the founding of that institution, established on September 6, 1961.
"Our recognition, admiration, and gratitude to the Personal Security fighters, who are, as the Army General has called them, a loyal family. The leadership of the Revolution has always relied on their steadfastness and unconditional support," wrote Marrero.
The rhetorical framework used by the Prime Minister was coined by Fidel Castro in a historic speech that the official account of the Presidency of Cuba circulated this weekend.
In that video clip, Fidel described his Personal Security agents with deliberate emotional weight: "What is the escort? It's family, it's a brother, it's an uncle, it's a father, it's a son, it's everything. And although they have kept me under control for more than half my life, from the depths of my heart I want to thank them."
Marrero's words almost literally reflect that Fidelista model, portraying personal security agents as a loyal and familial extension of the regime's leadership.
The chancellor Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla also joined in the congratulatory messages and took the opportunity to remember the fallen escorts "during the kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife," by U.S. forces on January 3, 2026, in Caracas.
The Personal Security Directorate in Cuba
The Personal Security Department operates under a logic of deliberate anonymity: the names, faces, and backgrounds of its agents are not public knowledge. This opacity is part of its institutional design.
The anniversary ceremony of the Personal Security Directorate was presided over by Raúl Castro and Miguel Díaz-Canel. The Army General received a recognition from the hands of the director, Brigadier General Emir Mesa Corona.
Behind Raúl was his grandson and personal bodyguard, Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, known as "El Cangrejo." His case as an agent is atypical because he has significant visibility on both the national and international stage.
«El Cangrejo» has been responsible for protecting his grandfather. Unlike his peers, whose identities remain in the shadows, Raúl Guillermo has accumulated an unusual public profile: appearances at official events, statements in the media, and extensive international coverage.
During the ceremony, "El Cangrejo" appeared emotional and even shed a few tears upon hearing a décima from the improvisational poet Marcos David Fernández Brunet dedicated to Raúl Castro, a scene that went viral on social media.
Sandro Castro congratulates his cousin
Sandro Castro, grandson of Fidel Castro, did not miss the opportunity. In his Instagram stories, he congratulated his cousin with a phrase that blends family affection and colloquial slang: "And congratulations to papi cangri on Personal Security Day."
In those same posts, Sandro also mocked those who believed the rumors about Raúl Castro's health following his public reappearance alongside Díaz-Canel at the anniversary event.
"Did you see how my general came out? I told you, he walks a kilometer every day, the general is in great shape," Sandro said.
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