On a historic Saturday in September 2026, Cuba’s most senior revolutionary leaders gathered to mark a major milestone: the 65th anniversary of the nation’s Personal Security Directorate, the specialized force that has protected Cuba’s highest leadership since the early days of the socialist revolution.
Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, a foundational leader of the Cuban Revolution, headlined the political and cultural commemoration, joined by Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic. Formally established on September 6, 1961, the Directorate emerged from the chaotic, high-stakes early years of the revolutionary movement led by Fidel Castro Ruz, and has grown into an unwavering pillar of the Cuban revolutionary project over the past six and a half decades.
In a congratulatory message read to assembled guests by Lázaro Alberto Álvarez Casas, a member of the Political Bureau and Minister of the Interior, Raúl Castro hailed the Directorate’s 65-year record of unbroken, flawless service, noting that the force’s members have repeatedly risked their own lives to protect Cuba’s leadership. He echoed the description crafted by Fidel Castro, saying it is no overstatement to label the Directorate’s consistent success a historic feat. Álvarez Casas extended the leadership’s profound gratitude for the force’s work, which predates the formal 1961 founding, stretching back to the earliest guerrilla struggle in the Sierra Maestra mountains.
Raúl Castro’s message opened with tribute to the Directorate’s fallen founders and martyrs, who carried out hundreds of critical missions to defend the revolution. He extended recognition to every active-duty member serving on this core defensive front, and highlighted the force’s decisive success in foiling countless plots targeting Fidel Castro, a testament to the constant priority and care the agency brings to its mission. Referring to the force as a loyal, interconnected family, Raúl also honored the 32 agents who lost their lives in the line of duty while serving in Venezuela, calling for their sacrifice to never be forgotten and their example to guide all future work of the Directorate.
Addressing the ongoing geopolitical pressures facing Cuba, Raúl Castro emphasized that the revolution currently navigates extraordinarily difficult circumstances, fueled by unrelenting hostility from the United States government, which remains determined to eliminate the Cuban example that has inspired so many across the globe. He reaffirmed that the Cuban leadership will continue to rely on the Personal Security Directorate, just as it has for 65 years, to defend the nation and ensure that U.S. aggression is ultimately consigned to the history books, alongside the long record of Cuban people’s courage and resilience.
To honor Raúl Castro’s foundational role in building and supporting the force, Brigadier General Emir Mesa Corona, head of the Personal Security Directorate, presented him with a formal award naming him a “Founding Leader” alongside Fidel Castro. The commemoration was attended by a wide range of senior officials, including other members of the Political Bureau, Central Committee members, leaders of the Ministry of the Interior and the Revolutionary Armed Forces, retired veterans of the Directorate, and family members of the 32 agents killed in Venezuela.
As part of the anniversary recognition, five founding members of the force received special distinctions for their lifelong commitment and loyalty: Lieutenant Colonel Luis Rivera Rivera, Colonel Nelson Camejo Mas, Colonel Nivaldo Pérez Guerra, Major Reinaldo Figueroa Peraza, and Lieutenant Colonel Orlando Arias Álvarez. Raúl Castro personally congratulated each honoree and extended his sincere appreciation for their decades of service.
In his keynote address, Mesa Corona first extended tribute to Fidel Castro on the centennial of his birth and to Raúl Castro on his 95th birthday, noting that the two revolutionary icons remain the undisputed guiding examples for all Personal Security combatants. He recalled that while Fidel Castro shaped many of the force’s early protocols, it was Raúl who consistently prioritized the agency’s work, issued the first operational instructions for protection across all battlefronts, and dedicated consistent attention to strengthening the force. Mesa Corona emphasized that Raúl has dedicated his entire life to upholding the principles of the Cuban Socialist Revolution and protecting 65 years of revolutionary gains, teaching the force that no battle is unwinnable and serving as a permanent example of austerity, discipline, rigorous planning, and unwavering commitment to defending the revolution.
Mesa Corona walked attendees through the force’s unprecedented service record, noting that the men and women of the Personal Security Directorate have formed an impenetrable defensive barrier that has foiled more than 600 assassination attempts targeting Fidel Castro and Raúl Castro. “Enemies have tried every tactic imaginable, but they never succeeded, and what is more, they never will,” he declared.
He paused to honor the 32 agents killed in Caracas, calling them a defining symbol of the sacrifice and resolve of the Cuban people, and a demonstration of the courage that the sons and daughters of the nation hold. He posed a rhetorical question to the assembled crowd: If Cuban agents fought like lions on foreign soil to defend their mission, what can enemies expect from every member of the Cuban leadership, every member of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, counterintelligence, the Ministry of the Interior, and every revolutionary Cuban, should they attempt to attack or kidnap or assassinate even one of Cuba’s top leaders?
Mesa Corona stressed that at a moment of unprecedented operational complexity, as hostile forces escalate their aggression against Cuba, the Directorate must operate with even greater cohesion, commitment, discipline, and rigor. He called for the force to continue strengthening its work with a sharp focus on foresight, ethical conduct, and professionalism, and to protect the unity of the Cuban people like the apple of one’s eye, echoing the guidance set by Raúl Castro. He closed his remarks with a statement of unshakable conviction: “We have been, we are, and we will be a Personal Security of Homeland or Death: We shall overcome.”
The formal tributes were paired with authentic Cuban cultural programming that wove together the nation’s history and revolutionary spirit. A performance of the song “To the Heroes” by Annie Garcés paid homage to the agents who died in Venezuela, the land of Simón Bolívar and Hugo Chávez, followed by a historical video retrospective of the Directorate’s 65 years of work. At its core, the entire event was a tribute to the generations of men and women who have guaranteed the personal safety of Fidel Castro, Raúl Castro, Díaz-Canel, and other top revolutionary leaders, earning their trust as close allies and family.
A photographic exhibition organized by Estudios Revolución, titled “One Hundred Years with Fidel and His Fighting Spirit,” complemented the commemoration, honoring both Fidel Castro and the Personal Security agents who stood by his side throughout his decades of leadership. Original improvised Cuban verse also took center stage during the event, with young performer Flavia Rojas earning widespread applause for her verses, which affirmed that Cuba stands unafraid of external aggression, and no power can threaten the legacy of its revolutionary leaders. Troubadour Marcos David Fernández Brunet and Nelson Valdés delivered a clear message to critics and foreign adversaries, affirming that Cuba’s revolutionary legacy will endure regardless of opposition from foreign powers.