China & Russia respond : Cuba

Global Times

Asked about China’s comment on the Cuban government’s rejection of recent accusations made by the US against Cuban leader Raul Castro, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Thursday that China consistently and firmly opposes unilateral sanctions that have no basis in international law or authorization of the UN Security Council.

“We stand against abusing judicial means and exerting pressure on Cuba under any pretext by external forces,” Guo said.

The US should stop brandishing sanctions or judicial proceedings at Cuba and stop resorting to the threat of force at every turn, the spokesperson said, adding that China firmly supports Cuba in safeguarding its sovereignty and national dignity and opposing external interference.

Guo’s remarks came after the US announced murder charges against former Cuban President Raúl Castro on Wednesday, which Reuters called “a major escalation in Washington’s pressure campaign” against the island’s government.

The agency reported that “the indictment marks a new low in relations between the longtime Cold War rivals and comes as US President Donald Trump is pushing for regime change in Cuba.”

When asked Wednesday by reporters if there would be further escalation in Cuba following the US indictment of Castro, Trump replied, “No, there won’t be escalation. I don’t think there needs to be,” according to CBS.

The charges stem from the 1996 shootdown of two civilian aircrafts. Castro, Cuba’s defense minister at the time, is alleged to have ordered the attack.

In a post on X, President Miguel Diaz-Canel said Cuba had acted legitimately to defend its territory in shooting down the planes.

He said the indictment is a political action with no legal basis, which aimed to justify a military aggression against Cuba.

Díaz-Canel warned Monday that a US military assault on Cuba “would trigger bloodshed with incalculable consequences.”

“Cuba poses no threat and has no aggressive plans or intentions against any country. It has none against the US, nor has it ever had any, a fact well known to that nation’s government,” the leader said in a post on X.

In response to the US indictment, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told ‌reporters on Thursday that “we will continue to provide the most active support to the fraternal Cuban people during this extremely difficult period,” per Reuters.

“We reaffirm our full solidarity with Cuba and strongly condemn any attempts at gross interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign state, intimidation and the use of illegal unilateral restrictive measures, threats and blackmail,” said Zakharova.

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The pretext:

94-year-old Raúl Castro is reportedly facing the death penalty.

📰 The New York Times

The publication reports that the leader could be abducted.

The U.S. Department of Justice has accused the former Cuban leader of involvement in the 1996 killing of four pilots who were rescuing Cuban refugees at sea.