Former Cuban leader Raúl Castro reappeared publicly in Havana on Friday, just days after the U.S. Justice Department unsealed murder charges against him. Cuban state television showed Castro attending an Interior Ministry celebration, marking his first public appearance since the indictment was announced last month.
Castro, who turned 95 on Wednesday, had last been seen during May Day events in Havana and before that at a January ceremony honoring Cuban soldiers killed during the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
The former president and defense minister was indicted on May 20 for his role in the 1996 downing of an aircraft operated by the exile group Brothers to the Rescue. Cuban military jets shot down the planes over international waters, killing four people, including three U.S. citizens.
The indictment is part of a broader escalation by the Trump administration toward Cuba. Former national security adviser John Bolton pointed to the charges and CIA Director John Ratcliffe's recent visit to Havana as signs of tightening pressure. President Donald Trump has repeatedly hinted at stronger action, saying in March he could "do anything" regarding the island and later telling supporters at a Miami event that "Cuba's next" before walking back the remark. Secretary of State Marco Rubio further fueled speculation when asked whether the administration supports regime change in Cuba, responding simply: "Yes."
