Cuba Rejects US Charges Against Raúl Castro Over 1996 Case

(MENAFN) Miguel Díaz-Canel has responded sharply to a recent U.S. legal move targeting former Cuban leader Raúl Castro, dismissing the indictment as part of a broader political escalation against Cuba.

According to reports, the United States has brought expanded charges against Raúl Castro, linking him to a 1996 incident in which several people, including three U.S. nationals, were killed when two aircraft operated by the exile group Brothers to the Rescue were shot down after being intercepted. The case also references additional fatalities connected to the same event.

The announcement, attributed to U.S. judicial authorities, came at a moment of heightened tensions between Washington and Havana, with Cuba already facing mounting economic pressure and concerns over fuel shortages amid broader geopolitical disputes.

Donald Trump had earlier supported the decision, which is being presented by U.S. officials as part of longstanding legal accountability efforts involving the Castro leadership era.

In response, Díaz-Canel rejected the legitimacy of the case, framing it as politically driven and aimed at justifying pressure against his country. He stated: “This is a political maneuver, devoid of any legal foundation, aimed solely at padding the fabricated dossier they use to justify the folly of a military aggression against Cuba.```

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