Raúl Castro sent a letter this Wednesday to the University of Medical Sciences of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (UCIMED-FAR) on the occasion of its 45th anniversary, in which he reiterated his message of unity and defense against what the Cuban regime describes as external threats, according to the Cuban News Agency.
The message, read by Major General Ramón E. Rodríguez Morfa during a ceremony at the Dr. Carlos J. Finlay Military Hospital in Havana, was not delivered in person by the 95-year-old Army General, who maintains a very low public profile and usually communicates through letters read by others at official events.
The event was presided over by the Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, Álvaro López Miera, and the First Deputy Minister Roberto Legrá Sotolongo, in the presence of the Minister of Higher Education Walter Baluja García and the Deputy Minister of Public Health Julio Guerra Izquierdo, as well as representatives from the military diplomatic corps accredited in Cuba.
In the text, Castro stated: "In these times, when preserving the unity and independence of the Fatherland remains our top priority, know that we are proud of your successes in fulfilling all the tasks assigned by the highest leadership of the country and your command."
The phrase summarizes the tone of a communication that, like others sent throughout 2026, appeals to the internal cohesion of military structures in the context of the "Year of Preparation for Defense" declared by the regime.
Castro also emphasized the educational role of the institution: "For over four decades, this group has graduated, at a high level, professionals who today ensure medical care for units, military hospitals, and our people."
During the ceremony, commemorative seals were awarded, the specialties of Gynecology and Obstetrics and Toxicology were accredited with Excellence, and the title of Doctor Honoris Causa was bestowed upon Dr. José Hernán Salas and Dr. Eloy Andrés Frías.
López Miera presented a certificate of recognition to the institution in honor of its academic and scientific achievements.
UCIMED-FAR was founded on October 7, 1981, as the Higher Institute of Military Medicine and adopted its current university name in 2009. It is the only Cuban higher education institution dedicated exclusively to the training of military healthcare personnel and holds the Carlos J. Finlay Order.
This letter is part of a series of epistolary messages that Raúl Castro has sent in 2026 to various military institutions, including the Central Army, the Eastern Army, the Western Army, and the civil defense workers, all featuring a propaganda discourse focused on preparation against what the regime depicts as an external threat.
His last known public appearance was on August 13, during the event for the centenary of Fidel Castro at the Karl Marx Theater, where he attended without delivering a speech or making any statements.
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