Cuban President Rejects U.S. Indictment of Raúl Castro
Miguel Díaz-Canel reaction Raúl Castro indictment
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel issued a forceful response on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, condemning the U.S. Department of Justice’s decision to indict former Cuban leader Raúl Castro. In a statement posted to his X account, Díaz-Canel characterized the federal charges as a “political maneuver” devoid of any legal foundation, describing them as a fabricated attempt by the U.S. government to justify potential military aggression against the island.
The U.S. indictment, unsealed earlier that day in Miami, charges the 94-year-old Castro with four counts of murder, conspiracy to kill U.S. nationals, and two counts of destruction of aircraft. The charges stem from the 1996 incident in which Cuban fighter jets shot down two Cessna aircraft operated by the Miami-based exile group “Brothers to the Rescue” in international waters, resulting in the deaths of four people, three of whom were U.S. citizens.
In his defense of the former leader, Díaz-Canel referred to Raúl Castro as a “hero” and “statesman,” asserting that the accusation only serves to highlight the “arrogance and frustration” of the current U.S. administration toward the Cuban Revolution. The Cuban president further stated that the U.S. is distorting the events of 1996, insisting that Cuba acted in accordance with international law to address what he termed a “narco-terrorist organization.”
The indictment represents a significant escalation in the Trump administration’s pressure campaign against the Cuban government. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the charges at a ceremony in Miami, framing the move as a long-delayed pursuit of justice for victims of the regime. As regional tensions continue to rise, Díaz-Canel maintained that the indictment will not weaken the “unity and moral strength” of the Cuban leadership, framing the U.S. legal action as part of a broader, failed strategy to destabilize the nation.
