Raúl Castro sent a letter on 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 published by 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, along with the Minister of Higher Education Walter Baluja García and the Deputy Minister of Public Health Julio Guerra Izquierdo, in addition to 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 Homeland 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 by 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 highlighted the educational work of the institution: "For more than four decades, this group has graduated, with a high level of quality, professionals who today ensure medical coverage for the units, military hospitals, and our people."
During the ceremony, commemorative seals were awarded, the specialties of Gynecology and Obstetrics and Toxicology received Accreditation of Excellence, and the title of Doctor Honoris Causa was conferred upon the doctors in Sciences José Hernán Salas and Eloy Andrés Frías.
López Miera presented a diploma of recognition to the institution in honor of its academic and scientific achievements.
The UCIMED-FAR was founded on October 7, 1981, as the Higher Institute of Military Medicine and adopted its current university designation in 2009. It is the only Cuban higher education institution exclusively dedicated to training military healthcare personnel and holds the Carlos J. Finlay Order.
This letter is part of a series of epistolary messages that Raúl Castro has directed in 2026 to various military institutions, including the Central Army, the Eastern Army, the Western Army, and the civil defense workers, all featuring a propagandistic discourse focused on the preparation for what the regime presents as an external threat.
His last documented public appearance was on September 5, when he attended an event alongside Miguel Díaz-Canel for the 65th anniversary of the Personal Security Directorate of the Ministry of the Interior in Havana. This reappearance occurred after rumors about his health circulated.
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