Castro (Ruz), Fidel Alejandro

Cuban communist politician, prime minister 1959–76 and president 1976–2008. He led the revolution that overthrew the right-wing regime of the dictator Fulgencio Batista in 1959. He improved education and health and raised the standard of living for most Cubans, but dealt harshly with dissenters. After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991 and the loss of its chief political and economic support, Castro was forced to make reforms limiting state control over the economy, permitting foreign ownership in major areas of commerce and industry from 1995, and encouragin tourism. He also developed closer ties with regional allies, notably oil-rich Venezuela, under Hugo Chávez, supplying it with Cuban doctors in exchange for cheap oil from 2005. With his health deteriorating, in July 2006 Castro transferred his day-to-day duties to his younger brother, and first vice-president, Raúl, and in February 2008 declared he would not stand for a further term as president or remain as commander-in-chief. The National Assembly elected Raúl Castro as new president in February 2008, but Fidel remained First Secretary of the Communist Party.

Castro's administration introduced a centrally planned economy based on the production for export of sugar, tobacco, and nickel. He nationalized the property of wealthy Cubans, Americans, and other foreigners in 1960. This led to the cutting of relations by the USA, an economic embargo, and US attempts to subvert and overthrow Cuba's government. In April 1961 a Bay of Pigs invasion by US-equipped Cuban exiles was attempted but failed. In response, the USSR stationed ballistic missiles in Cuba, leading to the Cuban missile crisis of 1962 in which the USA and USSR came close to war. The stand-off ended when the USSR agreed to withdraw its missiles on condition that the USA would no longer seek to overthrow the Cuban government.