Ramiro Valdes, founder of Cuban intelligence and revolutionary commander, dies at 94

Ramiro Valdes Menendez, a pivotal figure in the Cuban Revolution and a founder of the nation's intelligence services, has passed away at the age of 94. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel announced the death on Sunday, remembering Valdes as a loyal comrade of Fidel and Raul Castro.

Valdes was among the survivors of the 1956 Granma expedition, the voyage that brought Castro's rebels from Mexico to Cuba to launch their uprising against the Fulgencio Batista regime. Throughout his career, he held numerous significant government posts. He served twice as the interior minister and also held the position of deputy prime minister, according to the French news agency AFP.

In the 1960s, as interior minister, Valdes was instrumental in establishing the G2 intelligence service. This organization evolved into the core of Cuba's security apparatus, playing a critical role in maintaining state control. Cuban authorities have described him as a key figure from the revolutionary generation.

In a 2018 interview, Valdes spoke about the importance of monitoring and infiltrating counter-revolutionary groups. His legacy is cemented as one of the last commanders of Fidel Castro's revolution and a staunch defender of the Cuban state.