Raúl Castro

**Raúl Modesto Castro Ruz** (born June 3, 1931) was the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from 2011 to 2021 and former head of state of Cuba. He was also Second Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) from 1965 to 2011, Commander in Chief (Maximum General) of the Armed Forces (Army, Navy, and Air Force) and is the younger brother of Fidel Castro.

On February 24, 2013, Castro announced that his second term would be his final term and that he would not seek re-election in 2018. He officially stepped down on 19 April 2018.

Between 2014 and 2016, Castro would work with President Barack Obama on improving diplomatic relations between the United States and Cuba. As a result, the U.S. embargo on Cuba would be lifted and travel/trade restrictions would be lifted as well.

Castro announced at the Eighth Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba, which began on the 16 April, 2021, that he was stepping down as leader of the Communist Party of Cuba.

## Infobox (officeholder)

- **name**: Raúl Castro Ruz
- **image**: Presidente de Cuba, Raúl Castro, visita Salvador.jpg
- **office**: First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba
- **deputy**: José Ramón Machado Ventura, José Ramón Machado
- **president**: Himself
Miguel Díaz-Canel
- **term start**: 19 April 2011
- **term end**: 16 April 2021

- **predecessor**: Fidel Castro
- **successor**: Miguel Díaz-Canel
- **office1**: List of Presidents of Cuba, 20th Prime Minister, Prime Minister and Commander-in-chief of the Cuba, Republic of Cuba
- **vicepresident1**: José Ramón Machado Ventura, José Ramón Machado
Miguel Díaz-Canel
- **primeminister1**: Himself (as Prime Minister of Cuba, President of the Council of Ministers)
- **term start1**: 24 February 2008
- **term end1**: 19 April 2018

- **predecessor1**: Fidel Castro
- **successor1**: Miguel Díaz-Canel
- **office2**: Second Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba
- **leader2**: Fidel Castro
- **term start2**: 3 October 1965
- **term end2**: 19 April 2011
- **predecessor2**: Position established
- **successor2**: José Ramón Machado Ventura, José Ramón Machado
- **office3**: 1st First Vice President of Cuba
- **president3**: Fidel Castro
- **term start3**: 2 December 1976
- **term end3**: 24 February 2008
- **predecessor3**: Position established
- **successor3**: José Ramón Machado Ventura, José Ramón Machado
- **office4**: Minister of Defence
- **primeminister4**: Fidel Castro
- **term start4**: 16 February 1959
- **term end4**: 24 February 2008
- **predecessor4**: Position established
- **successor4**: Julio Casas Regueiro
- **office5**: Secretary-General of the Non-Aligned Movement
- **term start5**: 24 February 2008
- **term end5**: 16 July 2009

- **predecessor5**: Fidel Castro
- **successor5**: Hosni Mubarak
- **birth name**: Raúl Modesto Castro Ruz
- **birth place**: Birán, Republic of Cuba (1902–59), Cuba
- **party**: Popular Socialist Party (Cuba), Popular Socialist Party
26th of July Movement
Communist Party of Cuba, Communist Party
- **children**: 4, including Mariela Castro, Mariela and Alejandro Castro Espín, Alejandro
- **signature**: Raul Castro Signature.svg
- **branch**: Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces, Revolutionary Armed Forces
- **serviceyears**: 1953–59
- **rank**:  Major General
- **unit**: 26th of July Movement
- **battles**: Cuban Revolution
Cuban Missile Crisis
- **mawards**: Hero of the Republic of Cuba
Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise
National Order of Mali
Quetzal Medal
Order Prince Daniel of Good Faith First Degree