Alejandro Castro Espín
Encyclopedia
Alejandro Castro Espín is a Cuba
n political and military figure. He has the rank of colonel
in the Interior Ministry of Cuba. He is the only son of Raúl Castro
, the current president of Cuba, and Vilma Espín, one of the main leaders of the Cuban Revolution
; he is thus a nephew of Fidel Castro
.
is one of the country's most prominent sexologists, and also directress of the National Center for Sex Education in Cuba.
He participated in the Cuban contingent sent by his government to the Angolan Civil War
, and although he did not fight on the front line
, he lost an eye in an accident in Luanda
. This injury earned him the nickname "The One-Eyed" among Cuban dissidents.
Alejandro Castro is an engineer, and has a master's degree in international relations
. He has also been highlighted as a researcher on issues related to defense and national security.
Since his father, Raúl Castro
, came to power, Alejandro has become personal assistant to the president and been involved in various political events and official visits, which has increased speculation about the possibility that he is Castro's successor as head of the Cuban regime. He regularly writes articles in the Cuban press, and in 2009 he presented his first book, El Reino del Terror (The Reign of Terror), published by the publishing house of the Cuban Interior Ministry, which explains his particular vision of the United States
' interests of power in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n political and military figure. He has the rank of colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
in the Interior Ministry of Cuba. He is the only son of Raúl Castro
Raúl Castro
Raúl Modesto Castro Ruz is a Cuban politician and revolutionary who has been President of the Council of State of Cuba and the President of the Council of Ministers of Cuba since 2008; he previously exercised presidential powers in an acting capacity from 2006 to 2008...
, the current president of Cuba, and Vilma Espín, one of the main leaders of the Cuban Revolution
Cuban Revolution
The Cuban Revolution was an armed revolt by Fidel Castro's 26th of July Movement against the regime of Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista between 1953 and 1959. Batista was finally ousted on 1 January 1959, and was replaced by a revolutionary government led by Castro...
; he is thus a nephew of Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
.
Biography
Alejandro is the only son of the marriage between Raúl Castro and Vilma Espin (1930–2007), and brother of Deborah, Mariela and Nilsa. His sister MarielaMariela Castro
Mariela Castro Espín is the director of the Cuban National Center for Sex Education in Havana and an activist for LGBT rights in Cuba....
is one of the country's most prominent sexologists, and also directress of the National Center for Sex Education in Cuba.
He participated in the Cuban contingent sent by his government to the Angolan Civil War
Angolan Civil War
The Angolan Civil War was a major civil conflict in the Southern African state of Angola, beginning in 1975 and continuing, with some interludes, until 2002. The war began immediately after Angola became independent from Portugal in November 1975. Prior to this, a decolonisation conflict had taken...
, and although he did not fight on the front line
Front line
A front line is the farthest-most forward position of an armed force's personnel and equipment - generally in respect of maritime or land forces. Forward Line of Own Troops , or Forward Edge of Battle Area are technical terms used by all branches of the armed services...
, he lost an eye in an accident in Luanda
Luanda
Luanda, formerly named São Paulo da Assunção de Loanda, is the capital and largest city of Angola. Located on Angola's coast with the Atlantic Ocean, Luanda is both Angola's chief seaport and its administrative center. It has a population of at least 5 million...
. This injury earned him the nickname "The One-Eyed" among Cuban dissidents.
Alejandro Castro is an engineer, and has a master's degree in international relations
International relations
International relations is the study of relationships between countries, including the roles of states, inter-governmental organizations , international nongovernmental organizations , non-governmental organizations and multinational corporations...
. He has also been highlighted as a researcher on issues related to defense and national security.
Since his father, Raúl Castro
Raúl Castro
Raúl Modesto Castro Ruz is a Cuban politician and revolutionary who has been President of the Council of State of Cuba and the President of the Council of Ministers of Cuba since 2008; he previously exercised presidential powers in an acting capacity from 2006 to 2008...
, came to power, Alejandro has become personal assistant to the president and been involved in various political events and official visits, which has increased speculation about the possibility that he is Castro's successor as head of the Cuban regime. He regularly writes articles in the Cuban press, and in 2009 he presented his first book, El Reino del Terror (The Reign of Terror), published by the publishing house of the Cuban Interior Ministry, which explains his particular vision of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
' interests of power in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.