Raúl Castro finds himself at the center of a major new political and diplomatic crisis between Cuba and the United States, following charges filed by the US Department of Justice against the former Cuban president. Thousands of citizens gathered outside the US embassy in Havana, participating in a massive pro-government demonstration supporting the 94-year-old revolutionary leader. The mobilization took place on the waterfront of the Cuban capital during a period when tensions between Washington and Havana are escalating again, sparked by the revival of a case connected to events from 1996. Cuban authorities characterize the charges as “false” and speak of a political operation aimed at destabilizing the country and overthrowing the government. On the other hand, US authorities claim that Raúl Castro was involved in a conspiracy related to the downing of two civilian aircraft carrying Cuban exiles, an attack that resulted in the death of four people.
Raúl Castro: US charges and the 1996 case
The US Department of Justice filed charges against Raúl Castro and other individuals for conspiracy to murder American citizens. The case concerns events from 1996, when two civilian aircraft carrying Cuban exiles were shot down by Cuban air force fighter jets.
Four people were killed in the attack, and according to US authorities, Raúl Castro played a key role as he was Cuba’s Defense Minister at the time. The case has been one of the most sensitive and controversial points in relations between the two countries for decades. Washington believes the Cuban leadership bears responsibility for shooting down the aircraft, while Havana insists that the Cuban air force’s actions were legal and concerned violations of the country’s airspace. The filing of charges against Raúl Castro brings back to the forefront a case that has remained politically and diplomatically open for nearly three decades and is already causing new reactions both in Cuba and internationally.
🇨🇺👥 Milhares de pessoas se reúnem em Havana em apoio ao líder cubano Raúl Castro
✊ As autoridades locais denunciam que a acusação contra o dirigente revolucionário nos EUA é apenas um pretexto para justificar a escalada de ações contra o país caribenho. pic.twitter.com/wWgtT8Ie4L
— RT Brasil (@rtnoticias_br) May 22, 2026
Raúl Castro: Havana demonstrations and Cuba’s response
The Cuban government’s reaction was immediate. Thousands of citizens gathered outside the US embassy in Havana, participating in a pro-government demonstration supporting the country’s former president. The mobilization began shortly after dawn and was accompanied by anti-US chants and displays of support for the historic leader of the Cuban revolution. Top Cuban officials attended the demonstration, including President Miguel Díaz-Canel and Prime Minister Manuel Marrero, who publicly expressed their support for Raúl Castro.
The Cuban government openly accuses the US of using “false” charges as a pretext to intensify pressure on Havana. According to the position articulated by the Cuban side, the indictment is part of a broader plan to destabilize the country and overthrow the government. Cuban authorities argue that Washington’s goal is to create international pressure around the Cuban leadership and justify aggressive actions against the island.
The new crisis comes at a time when US-Cuba relations remain particularly fragile, despite occasional attempts at de-escalation. The Raúl Castro case is expected to further burden the already tense diplomatic climate, and new political and diplomatic reactions cannot be ruled out in the coming days.
