Cuba has marked the 100th anniversary of the birth of revolutionary leader Fidel Castro with a series of events this week. The celebrations, held on Thursday, included the attendance of foreign Communist dignitaries.
Even as the island celebrates, Castro's influence continues to loom over a nation struggling with economic collapse. Cuba is currently experiencing one of the most severe economic and political crises in its history.
This crisis has been exacerbated by Washington's oil embargo and hardened sanctions. The island faces an intensifying squeeze that began when the Trump administration imposed a fuel blockade in January and followed up with a series of sanctions.