On Sunday, July 13, 2026, Cuba’s top leader Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, who serves as both First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic of Cuba, issued a public message of condolence via the social platform X following the passing of Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, the Father Emir of the State of Qatar.
Opening his statement with a note of deep sorrow, Díaz-Canel honored the late Qatari statesman, describing him as a distinguished leader whose decisive work laid the foundation for Qatar’s growth into a modern, prosperous nation. Beyond his transformative contributions to Qatar’s domestic development, the Cuban president emphasized the late Emir’s outsized role in nurturing the longstanding, friendship-driven ties that bind Cuba and Qatar together.
Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani was not only a committed partner in advancing bilateral relations but also a close friend to the Cuban people and to Cuba’s iconic Commander-in-Chief, Díaz-Canel added.
In closing, the Cuban head of state reaffirmed that Cuba stands in solidarity with Qatar during this period of mourning. He extended the island nation’s sincere sympathies directly to current Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, the entire Al-Thani family, the Qatari government, and the broader Qatari population, noting the deep fraternal connection between the two countries.