Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel addressed the Cuban people this Thursday on the eve of another anniversary of the triumph of the Revolution, just hours before the arrival of 2026.
Through the social network X, the president stated that “New Year in Cuba is synonymous with triumph” and called for a renewal of this tradition in 2026, declared the Year of the Centenary of Fidel Castro.
Díaz-Canel affirmed that the Cuban people, whom he described as “noble, resilient, and creative, deserve to celebrate this new anniversary with optimism and conviction.” In his message, he also reiterated the historic slogan of confidence in victory in the face of difficulties: “We shall overcome!”
Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla extended a double greeting to the citizens for the arrival of the New Year and for the commemoration of the revolutionary triumph.
He emphasized the role of the people as protagonists of a foreign policy inspired by Fidel Castro’s revolutionary principles, and acknowledged the daily effort, sacrifice, unity, and patriotism demonstrated in the face of the tightening of the blockade and other economic pressure measures imposed by the United States.
As traditional, a military ceremony was held at midnight on January 1st to commemorate the 67th anniversary of the Revolution. The event included a 21-gun salute fired from the San Carlos de la Cabaña Fortress in Havana.
The commemoration recalls the historic events of the early morning of January 1, 1959, when dictator Fulgencio Batista fled the country in the face of the advancing rebel forces led by Fidel Castro. Despite last-minute attempts to install a civilian-military junta to halt the process, backed by the U.S. embassy, the revolutionary movement managed to consolidate its victory.
The surrender of the Santiago de Cuba garrison and the call by the Revolution’s historic leader for a general strike, which received massive support across the island, marked the definitive outcome.
This triumph not only signified a change of government, but also the beginning of a political and social project that redefined the course of the Cuban nation. More than six decades later, the Revolution continues to be a symbol of sovereignty, resistance, and the pursuit of social justice—values that the government and broad sectors of society reaffirm every January 1st as a central part of national identity.
[ SOURCE: AGENCIA CUBANA DE NOTICIAS ]
