Ramiro Valdés, key figure in Cuban Revolution and right-hand man to the Castros, dies

Ramiro Valdés, a pivotal commander in the Cuban Revolution and a lifelong confidant of the Castro brothers, has died at 94. His passing was announced by Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, who expressed deep sorrow and described Valdés as a "father figure" whose life was marked by "absolute loyalty" to the revolutionary government.

Valdés was among the select few to bear the prestigious title of "Commander of the Revolution." He was also a survivor of the 1956 Granma expedition, the pivotal event that launched the Cuban Revolution. During the fight against dictator Fulgencio Batista, he served as a key lieutenant to Che Guevara.

“

The death of the commander of the revolution, Ramiro Valdés Menéndez, deeply affects us. It is as if we have lost a father.

As a member of the Cuban Communist Party's Politburo, Valdés held significant power as the Minister of the Interior. In this role, he established the G2, the country's state security service, which became a notorious instrument of the regime. He was known for always wearing his military uniform in public appearances.

In his later years, Valdés supported Miguel Díaz-Canel, the first Cuban president not from the Castro family, who has led the country since 2018. Valdés had not been seen publicly since last year. His death marks the end of an era for the Cuban revolutionary leadership.

“

Every moment of Commander Ramiro's life was dedicated to his absolute loyalty to the government of Fidel and Raúl and to his comrades in arms.