Heads of state from around the world are reacting to Fidel Castro’s death.
Allies praised the global impact and legacy of Cuba’s former president, who died aged 90 on Friday. His opponents remembered him for heading a communist regime with a poor human rights record.
President Barack Obama said that “
Fidel Castro is dead!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
Pope Francis described Castro’s death as “sad news.” He said he was grieving and praying for Castro’s “repose.”
Former Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev, whose communist bloc bolstered Cuba politically and economically until its own dissolution in 1991, said that Castro had left a lasting mark on world history, Interfax news agency reports.
Russian President Vladimir Putin called the Cuban strongman an “inspiring example for many countries” and a “symbol of an era” in a telegram he sent to the former leader’s brother and successor, Raul Castro.
Russia’s Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev shared a lengthy Facebook post in which he recalled last speaking with the late Cuban leader on the telephone in August.
“Without exaggeration, a whole era of history is gone with Fidel Castro,” he wrote. “I will treasure memories of my meetings with this remarkable man.”
We last spoke on the phone in August. Fidel Castro had a keen interest in the events in the world and in Russia https://t.co/8mmhGaYfSG pic.twitter.com/Yz1Ub2Mkoe
— Dmitry Medvedev (@MedvedevRussiaE)
In a statement, China’s President Xi Jinping praised Castro’s contribution to developing communism around the world. The Chinese people had lost “a close comrade and a sincere friend,” he added.
French President Francois Hollande, however, noted his concerns over the Castro regime’s human rights record, as he welcomed the warming of relations between Cuba and the U.S.
“Fidel Castro was a towering figure of the 20th century. He incarnated the Cuban revolution, in both its hopes and subsequent disillusionments,” Hollande said. “France, which condemned human rights abuses in Cuba, had equally challenged the U.S. embargo on Cuba, and France was glad to see the two countries re-establish dialogue and open ties between themselves.”
Ecuador’s President Rafael Correa remarked how “a great has left us,” while Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro called Castro “an example of the fight for all the people in the world.”
Se fue un grande. Murió Fidel.
— Rafael Correa (@MashiRafael)
¡Viva Cuba! ¡Viva América Latina!
A tod@s l@s Revolucionari@s del Mundo nos toca seguir con su Legado y su Bandera de Independencia,de Socialismo,de Patria Humana...
— Nicolás Maduro (@NicolasMaduro)
A 60años de la partida del Granma de México parte Fidel hacia la Inmortalidad de los que luchan toda la Vida...Hasta la Victoria Siempre... pic.twitter.com/wjLS9ngzA5
— Nicolás Maduro (@NicolasMaduro)
Bolivia’s President Evo Morales said Castro “left us a legacy of having fought for the integration of the world’s peoples,” while El Salvador’s leader Salvador Sanchez called him the country’s “eternal friend.”
Con profundo dolor recibimos noticia del fallecimiento de querido amigo y eterno compañero, Comandante Fidel Castro Ruz.
— Salvador Sánchez (@sanchezceren)
South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma thanked Castro for his help as black South Africans struggled against apartheid. “President Castro identified with our struggle against apartheid,” Zuma said via a statement. “He inspired the Cuban people to join us in our own struggle against apartheid.”
Zuma’s party, the ruling African National Congress, also expressed sadness over the news.
Comrade Castro's leadership remains an inspiration to revolutionary movements committed to social justice worldwide. #VasBienFidel pic.twitter.com/6tZG5FXVKZ
— MyANC (@MYANC)
As did the foundation of the late, former South African President Nelson Mandela:
#NelsonMandela Foundation sends deepest condolences to the people & government of Cuba on passing of Fidel Castro https://t.co/5R3ySxl3MA pic.twitter.com/YeLt2zaw7f
— NelsonMandela (@NelsonMandela)
Spain’s President Mariano Rajoy sent his condolences to the Cuban authorities:
Mis condolencias al gobierno y autoridades cubanas por el fallecimiento del expresidente Fidel Castro, una figura de calado histórico. MR
— Mariano Rajoy Brey (@marianorajoy)
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his condolences to the people of Cuba via Twitter, calling Castro “one of the most iconic personalities of the 20th century.”
I extend my deepest condolences to the Government & people of Cuba on the sad demise of Fidel Castro. May his soul rest in peace.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi)
Fidel Castro was one of the most iconic personalities of the 20th century. India mourns the loss of a great friend.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi)
And India’s President Pranab Kumar Mukherjee echoed those thoughts:
Heartfelt condolences on sad demise of Cuba's revolutionary leader, former President & friend of India, Fidel Castro #PresidentMukherjee
— President of India (@RashtrapatiBhvn)
Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto called Castro “a friend of Mexico” who promoted a relationship based on “respect, dialogue and solidarity.”
Fidel Castro fue un amigo de México, promotor de una relación bilateral basada en el respeto, el diálogo y la solidaridad.
— Enrique Peña Nieto (@EPN)
Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena similarly called Castro an “iconic leader of an era of revolution.”
The iconic leader of an era of revolution bids farewell to the world. Rest in peace, Comrade Fidel Castro.
— Maithripala Sirisena (@MaithripalaS)
Pakistan presidential election candidate Imran Khan, a former cricket player, described Castro as an “iconic revolutionary” who “liberated his nation from all vestiges of imperialism”.
1. Today the world lost an iconic revolutionary leader Fidel Castro who liberated his nation from all vestiges of imperialism.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI)
2. Castro reasserted the Cuban nation's dignity & self worth that withstood US aggression & became a global ldr for anti colonial struggles
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI)
3. We in Pakistan will always remember with gratitude Cuba's support on the ground in the aftermath of the 2005 earthquake
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI)
Ireland’s President Michael Higgins issued this statement:
Read the full text of the President's statement on the death of Fidel Castro:https://t.co/hX84AajZ5l
— President of Ireland (@PresidentIRL)
Boris Johnson, Britain’s Foreign Secretary, did not praise Castro in his tweeted statement. Instead, he noted that the former president’s death marked both the end and start of a new era for Cuba.
This article has been updated to include additional leaders’ reactions to the news of Castro’s death.
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