Ninety-nine years ago, in the humble village of Birán, Cuba, a giant was born, who would later become the Commander-in-Chief of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro Ruz: a man of indomitable spirit, who inherited the strength of our liberators, and who, with his words, his life, and his struggle, lit the flame of dignity in Our America and throughout the world.

Today, the member countries of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA-TCP) commemorate, with deep revolutionary enthusiasm, the birth of a man who never gave up, who confronted the most powerful empire in history and prevailed with ideas, solidarity, and an unwavering faith in humanity. Fidel was not just a statesman; he was a strategist of emancipation, a fighter who turned Cuba into a beacon of light for the peoples of the world.

His legacy continues to be with us: in every battle for sovereignty, in every embrace of solidarity between peoples, in every expression of resistance against injustice. Fidel taught us that social justice and self-determination are non-negotiable, that the unity of peoples is our greatest weapon, and that victory is possible when we fight based on principles, with courage, and with the truth.

One year before his 100th birthday, ALBA-TCP joins the Cuban people and government in paying tribute to the Commander, reaffirming the commitment to keep alive the spirit of the Cuban Revolution and the cause for which he devoted his life: the construction of a more just, free, and united world.

Fidel resides in the strength of those who do not give up, in the voice of those who speak the truth, in the hope of those who fight. Today, as yesterday and as always, his example guides us.

Caracas, August 13, 2025