Ricardo Cabrisas

Ricardo Cabrisas Ruiz (January 21, 1937 – September 16, 2025) was a Cuban politician and diplomat. A member of the Communist Party of Cuba, he held senior government posts for more than four decades, most notably as Minister of Foreign Trade from 1980 to 2000 and again as Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment between 2023 and 2024. He also served as Vice President of the Council of Ministers (2008–2019), Minister of Economy and Planning (2016–2018), and Deputy Prime Minister (2023–2025). Known for his role in Cuba's economic diplomacy, he negotiated international agreements and represented the country in foreign relations.

Early life Cabrisas was born on January 21, 1937, in Havana. He studied political science and medicine, though he did not complete either degree.

Career In 1961, two years after the triumph of the Cuban Revolution (in which there is no record of his active participation), Cabrisas joined the newly created Ministry of Foreign Trade. In the following years, he rose through various minor foreign posts, such as Commercial Counsellor in Uruguay and Canada. Over subsequent decades he became the government's chief negotiator on foreign debt, representing the country in talks with both state and private creditors and leading economic negotiations with partners such as China and Russia. He also took part in negotiations with financial actors considered less aligned with Cuba's model, such as the Paris Club, with which he renegotiated debt in 2025 in France.

Cabrisas sat as a deputy in the Cuban parliament and was a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC), the country's only legal party.

On May 23, 2024, President Miguel Díaz-Canel replaced Cabrisas as Minister of Foreign Commerce, naming Oscar Pérez, then first deputy minister, as his successor. Cabrisas continued in his post as Deputy Prime Minister.

Personal life Cabrisas was married to Hilda, and had a son, Ricardo.

Death Cabrisas died in Havana on September 16, 2025, at the age of 88. According to a statement by the Communist Party of Cuba, he had been suffering from an unspecified illness. President Miguel Díaz-Canel confirmed his death on the social network X, describing Cabrisas as "an exemplary man who dedicated his entire life to the Revolution" and offering condolences to his family. State media also reported that he "enjoyed the full confidence of Fidel and Raúl Castro."