Former Cuban President Raúl Castro made his first public appearance since being hospitalized in an event celebrating the anniversary of Cuba's Personal Security Directorate. The event was attended by high-ranking military officials and featured Castro, 95, walking alongside his bodyguard and grandson, in his traditional military uniform. This marks Castro's first public appearance since August 13, although he had been absent from a previous rally in July due to health concerns that were later confirmed as rumors without official confirmation. The event comes after reports of Castro's hospitalization for a grave illness surfaced last week, but the Cuban government did not confirm the illness.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Former Cuban President Raúl Castro, 95, has appeared publicly for the first time since being hospitalized after a prolonged absence from public view. He made an appearance at a military event in Havana on Saturday, marking the 65th anniversary of a unit responsible for protecting top leaders, including his brother Fidel Castro. The 10-minute footage broadcast by Cuban state television showed Castro wearing his traditional olive-green uniform and congratulating veterans alongside his bodyguard and grandson, Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro. This is Castro's first public appearance since August 13, when he last appeared to mark the centenary of Fidel's birth. The event comes after weeks of speculation about Castro's health following his hospitalization. The former president has been out of formal government positions for some time but still holds significant influence in Cuban politics and has even given his support to market-oriented economic reforms aimed at addressing the country's financial crisis, which has worsened under US sanctions imposed since January.
Written for “Raul Castro's Public Reappearances” on 2026-09-07,
grounded in this article and the 2 other(s) covering the same event.
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Leaning score -0.35 for article 6056 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-09-07
Former Cuban President Raúl Castro appeared at a military event on Saturday, marking his first public appearance since he was hospitalized for what was reportedly
.
uncertain
what → appear → appearance
The military event was held to celebrate the anniversary of an army branch responsible for protecting its top leaders.
asserted
event → hold → leaders
Cuban state television aired more than 10 minutes of footage Saturday night that showed Castro, 95, in his traditional olive-green military uniform, alongside his bodyguard and grandson, Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro.
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that → air → bodyguard
The broadcast also reported that Castro's grandson had participated earlier this year in talks with the United States, which has imposed an oil and financial blockade on the island since January.
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which → report → January
The talks have since halted, while sanctions have increased in recent months.
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sanctions → halt → months
Authorities from both nations have acknowledged that talks took place following the energy blockade, but there is neither an agenda nor any leaked details regarding these conversations.
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talks → acknowledge → conversations
The former president, who no longer holds any formal position in government or in the island's Communist Party, rarely appears in public.
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who → hold → public
Rumors regarding his health have recently circulated, even more so since his first absence in decades from a July rally marking the anniversary of the Cuban revolution's biggest celebration.
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Rumors → regard → celebration
Last week, reports that Castro had been hospitalized for a grave illness began to surface, drawing strong reactions from Cuban exiles and others in South Florida, CBS Miami reported.
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Miami → hospitalize → Florida
The Cuban government didn't confirm the illness, which was reported by the Miami-based newspaper Diario Las Américas, citing a source close to Castro in Cuba.
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which → confirm → Cuba
In June, the U.S. Department of Justice filed murder charges against the veteran leader in connection with the 1996 downing of light aircraft that belonged to an anti-Castro organization.
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that → file → organization
The planes had entered Cuban airspace as part of a campaign to tighten various sanctions and apply pressure for change in the island's political system.
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planes → enter → system
Cuban TV on Saturday showed Castro walking alongside high-ranking military officials and taking a seat in the front row of an indoor venue.
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Castro → show → venue
He stood up on several occasions to receive a commemorative certificate and greet attendees.
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He → stand → attendees
"It is an honor to participate alongside Army General (Raúl Castro) in the ceremony marking the 65th anniversary of the Personal Security Directorate.
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It → participate → Directorate
An agency with origins dating back well before September 6, 1961, to the days of the revolutionary struggle led by the Commander-in-Chief (Fidel Castro)," President Miguel Díaz-Canel wrote on X on Sunday morning.
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Canel → date → morning
His post included several photos from the event showing him together with Raúl Castro.
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post → include → Castro
The U.S. energy blockade has exacerbated a five-year crisis and had a significant impact on the Caribbean nation's population and economy, including blackouts lasting over 30 hours.
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blockade → exacerbate → hours
