Cuba Denounces 'Despicable Accusation' by US Against Former President Raúl Castro

Cuba has issued a strong denunciation of the United States Department of Justice's recent criminal charges leveled against former President Raúl Castro. The Cuban government unequivocally condemned the accusations as a "despicable accusation" and a "despicable and infamous act of political provocation." This strong reaction underscores the deep-seated animosity and historical tensions that continue to define the relationship between Cuba and the United States.

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the United States government lacks the legitimacy and jurisdiction to carry out this action.

The charges, which include conspiracy to kill U.S. nationals, destruction of an aircraft, and murder, stem from a 1996 incident where two planes belonging to the Cuban-American exile group Brothers to the Rescue were shot down over Cuban airspace. Cuba maintains that these aircraft were engaged in hostile acts and repeatedly violated Cuban territory, despite numerous complaints filed by Havana with international aviation authorities and the U.S. government itself. The Cuban Embassy stated that Washington "distorts other historical truths about the event it uses as a pretext."

Havana argues that the U.S. government lacks the legitimate authority and jurisdiction to bring these charges, particularly against a former head of state. The Cuban perspective frames this move as a politically motivated escalation, aimed at further destabilizing relations and interfering in Cuban affairs. The article highlights Cuba's position that the U.S. is selectively presenting facts and ignoring Cuba's own documented grievances regarding airspace violations by the Brothers to the Rescue organization. This incident, occurring decades ago, is being re-framed by the U.S. in a manner that Cuba finds unacceptable and politically charged, particularly given Raúl Castro's age and former position.

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It is a despicable and infamous act of political provocation, based on the dishonest manipulation of the incident that led to the downing, in February 1996, of two aircraft operated by the Miami-based terrorist organisation Brothers to the Rescue over Cuban airspace, which repeated violations of Cuban airspace for hostile purposes were of common knowledge.

From Cuba's standpoint, this indictment represents a continuation of hostile U.S. policy, regardless of the specific administration in power. The Cuban media, reflecting the government's stance, would likely emphasize the perceived hypocrisy and overreach of the U.S. justice system, contrasting it with what they would describe as Cuba's sovereign right to defend its airspace. The narrative would focus on historical context, including the U.S. embargo and past interventions, portraying this legal action as another tool in a long-standing campaign against the Cuban Revolution. The emphasis would be on Cuba's resilience and its rejection of external interference in its internal affairs and historical narratives.

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The United States, and President Trump, does not, and will not, forget its citizens.