Havana, Cuba – Cuban authorities announced the death of Ramiro Valdés, former Vice President of the Council of State and one of the most prominent figures in the Cuban Revolution, at the age of 93. His decades-long career included high-ranking political and military positions, and he played a key role in shaping many of the country’s policies since the revolution’s victory in 1959. Valdés was a prominent figure closely associated with the late leader Fidel Castro. He participated alongside Castro in the 1953 attack on the Moncada Barracks, an operation considered the spark that ignited the Cuban Revolution against the regime of Fulgencio Batista. After the attack failed, he was arrested but later released to continue his revolutionary activities alongside Castro.
During the years of the revolution, Valdés played influential roles in both military and political affairs. He participated in the operations that led to the overthrow of the Batista regime. Following the revolution’s rise to power, he held a number of sensitive positions in the Cuban state.
The late Valdés served as Minister of the Interior at various points in Cuba’s history. He also held the position of Vice President of the Council of State. For decades, he was a close confidant of the Cuban leadership, and his name was associated with security, defense, infrastructure, and technological development.
Cuban officials described Valdés as one of the “historic revolutionaries” who contributed to establishing the institutions of the modern state. They also highlighted his role in protecting the revolution and confronting the internal and external challenges the country faced over the decades.
His death sparked a wave of reactions within Cuba, with political and military figures mourning one of the last prominent figures of the first generation of the revolution. He played a pivotal role in the political transformations the island underwent during the second half of the 20th century.
With the passing of Ramiro Valdés, Cuba closes a new chapter in the history of the generation of leaders who accompanied Fidel Castro from the very beginning of the revolution. These leaders left an indelible mark on the country’s political and military life for decades.
