China and Russia have voiced strong opposition to the recent indictment of Cuba’s former president, Raúl Castro, issued by the U.S. Justice Department. Both nations denounced the charges as unwarranted interference in Cuba’s sovereignty and condemned Washington’s use of judicial measures and sanctions in its pressure campaign against the island nation.
The U.S. alleges that Castro and other Cuban nationals were involved in the 1996 shootdown of two civilian aircraft operated by an exile-linked activist group. Castro, who stepped down as president in 2018 but remains a prominent political figure, now faces legal action from Washington amid escalating tensions.
At a briefing in Beijing, a spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry criticized the U.S. for wielding “big sticks” through unilateral sanctions and threatening force without authorization from the United Nations Security Council. China emphasized its rejection of sanctions that lack international legal grounding.
In a separate statement, Russia’s Foreign Ministry echoed Beijing’s stance, labeling the indictment and related U.S. actions as “gross interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign state.” Russia accused the U.S. of employing intimidation, illegal restrictive measures, and blackmail to coerce Cuba.
Russian officials pledged to continue providing active support to Cuba, describing the relationship as a fraternal alliance. Both nations underscored their commitment to defending Cuba’s political independence in the face of mounting U.S. pressure.