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Published on February 20, 2008

An era has ended in the ailing Caribbean nation of Cuba, with President for Life Fidel Castro taking the decision to step down as both president and commander-in-chief. When a leader, some would say dictator, like Castro resigns, it can either be a moment of great reflection, joy or sadness. Obviously for the poor of Cuba, who have grown used to his leadership and the free social services provided by the government, he is regarded as a demigod. For them, Cuba's excellent health care, free education and social security have made up for all the shortcomings of socialist regimes that Western countries like to stress: the lack of democracy and the violations of human rights. Each year these cause thousands of refugees to flee the island nation to the United States and other countries.

Castro has ruled Cuba for nearly half a century.  Since the revolution in 1957, he has fought against the West literally at every turn. In the case of his great nemesis the United States, he has outlasted nine US presidents from both the Democrat and Republican Parties.

US leaders have all sought to isolate Castro and his brand of revolutionary socialism. But it has been to no avail because Castro has weathered every storm. As the decades went by, he became even stronger and more versatile. He survived against all odds, foiling attempted coups against his regime, and even assassination attempts by the US secret services.

It is no surprise that the fate of Castro has always been speculated upon in the West. Time and again, news would come out about his supposed demise, raising hopes among the Cuban community living in exile, who want to go home to visit their relatives.

Although it is too early to tell what will happen in the next few days - when the Parliament will be in session - it is almost certain that his brother, Raul, will be one of the contenders to become his successor. After all, Raul has been the de facto Cuban president since Fidel fell ill and had intestinal surgery in 2006.

Since then, Castro has been confined to his hospital bed. TV news often shows him walking and exercising in his room. He also meets with some foreign dignitaries, especially those from Latin America who have adopted some of his social policies. Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez has become a regular guest of Castro, as have other leaders from Central America.

Nothing much is expected to change in Cuba in the short term because Raul will likely manage the country the way his elder brother wants. He has been credited for reducing the cumbersome Cuban army and introducing Western business practices that have helped the isolated economy. In Cuba today, US currency is used alongside the local currency in commercial transactions.

But Cuba needs to improve its international trade record and its cooperation with the West in order to raise the standard of living of its people. The US is not likely to change its current policy of trade sanctions.

While Cuba's revolutionary zeal is celebrated in Vietnam, Laos and, to some extent, Cambodia, in the rest of Asia, and particularly Thailand, Cuba is best known and respected for its sporting prowess.

Cuba opened its embassy here in 2002, and when Thailand won its first Olympic gold medal - in boxing in the Sydney Games - the Cuban coach who trained the Thai boxer was treated as a hero. Indeed, many of Thailand's boxing coaches come from Cuba. The close relations between the two countries even featured in a meeting between former Thai foreign minister Surakiart Sathirathai and former US national security advisor Condoleeza Rice during Surakiart's first visit to Washington under the first Thaksin administration. Rice asked Surakiart to step up the pressure on Cuba, which Surakiart refused to do, saying that Thailand had good ties with Cuba and viewed it as a potential trade and investment partner.

In the post-Fidel Castro Cuba, ties with the rest of the world will improve as the island nation tries to broaden its national profile through international trade and investment. As a member of the Non-Aligned Movement, Cuba continues to forge closer ties with developing countries and exports its expertise in health care and social security.