International Condemnation of US Charges Against Raúl Castro
China and Russia have strongly criticized the United States' decision to indict Cuba's former president Raúl Castro on murder charges.
The Chinese foreign ministry urged the US to cease employing "coercion" and "threats" against its ally, while the Kremlin stated that the pressure applied on Havana "borders on violence."
Background of the Indictment
The US has charged Castro in connection with the 1996 downing of two planes, an event that resulted in four fatalities and heightened diplomatic tensions between Washington and the Caribbean nation.
US President Donald Trump has consistently sought to increase pressure on Cuba and has publicly discussed efforts to overthrow its communist government.
In addition to the indictment, the US has implemented new sanctions on Cuba and effectively blocked oil shipments to the island, worsening a fuel crisis that has caused prolonged blackouts and food shortages.
Statements from Russian and Chinese Officials
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian state media on Thursday that the US campaign of pressure against Russia's long-standing ally, including the indictment of Castro, "cannot be condoned."
"We believe that under no circumstances should such methods - which border on violence - be used against either former or current heads of state," he added.
Earlier, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun stated that the US should "stop threatening force at every turn," affirming that Beijing "firmly supports Cuba."
He said Beijing opposed "any attempt by external forces to exert pressure on Cuba under any pretext."
Guo continued: "The United States should cease using sanctions and judicial apparatus as tools of coercion against Cuba and refrain from making threats of force at every turn."
Details of the Charges Against Castro
Castro was charged alongside five others on Wednesday for their alleged roles in the shooting down of the two planes, which were flying between Cuba and Florida when attacked.
The charges carry penalties including life imprisonment or the death penalty.
The aircraft, operated by the Cuban-American dissident group Brothers to the Rescue, carried three US citizens who were killed in the incident.
At the time, Castro, who stepped down as president in 2018, was the head of Cuba's armed forces.
The incident sparked outrage among Cuban exiles in the US and has long been a contentious issue between Washington and Havana.
Cuba's current President Miguel Díaz-Canel described the charges as "a political manoeuvre, devoid of any legal foundation."
US Political Context and Related Actions
Since the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January, Trump has openly suggested that Cuba was "ready to fall."
The Trump administration used a federal indictment against Maduro as justification for a raid on Caracas to seize him and his wife, Cilia Flores, who are now scheduled to stand trial in New York on charges including drug trafficking.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio declined to comment on whether or how the administration plans to bring Castro to the US for trial.
Speaking to reporters in Florida on Thursday, Rubio asserted that the former Cuban leader "openly admits and brags about" ordering the downing of the planes.
Asked about the US using force to achieve regime change in Cuba, Rubio said the administration's preference was a negotiated settlement, but added: "He has the option to do that if there's a threat to the national security of the United States - and he has shown his willingness to do that when he identifies such a threat."
On Wednesday, Rubio addressed the Cuban people in Spanish, portraying the Trump administration's actions as "offering a new path," replacing a kleptocratic regime with freedoms similar to those enjoyed by Cuban-Americans.
Ongoing US-Cuba Relations and Sanctions
Cuban officials have been engaged in talks with the US to resolve bilateral differences for several months. A single Russian oil shipment allowed to reach Cuba recently ran out earlier this month.
Meanwhile, the White House has continued to escalate pressure on Havana.
Earlier in June, Trump signed an executive order imposing sanctions on officials in Cuba's energy, defense, financial, and security sectors, as well as individuals accused by the US of human rights abuses or theft of public assets.
US surveillance flights near Cuba have reportedly increased, and the CIA director demanded during a recent visit that Cuba "no longer be a safe haven for adversaries."
Cuba had previously managed to withstand severe Western sanctions with support from regional allies, notably Venezuela's government under Maduro, which was believed to supply approximately 35,000 barrels of oil per day before his capture.
