Raul Castro, indicted in the US, made a rare public appearance at a Havana rally marking his brother Fidel’s 100th birthday, receiving a standing ovation. He attended under tight security and in uniform amid an islandwide crisis of blackouts and shortages. The US has imposed an energy embargo and some officials have signalled military options remain on the table. The Communist Party used the centenary to rally loyalists, while many Cubans remain focused on daily hardships.
Raul Castro Reappears in Havana Rally as Fidel’s Centenary Draws Mixed Reactions
Cuba's former president Raul Castro, 95, attends a gala marking the 100th anniversary of the birth of his late brother and revolutionary leader Fidel Castro (YAMIL LAGE)
Raul Castro, who was indicted in the United States earlier this year, returned to public view on Thursday and received a standing ovation at a Havana ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of his brother Fidel Castro’s birth.
The 95-year-old former president and current head of Cuba’s armed forces entered the Karl Marx Theatre in his familiar olive-green uniform amid heightened security measures. AFP reporters said mobile phones were banned, bags were closely screened and delegates passed through metal detectors under a substantial security presence.
Tight Security and a Charged Political Backdrop
Castro is the last surviving leader of the 1959 revolution and is widely seen as continuing to exert influence on the island despite stepping down as president in 2018. In May, a court in Florida charged him with four counts of murder over the downing of US civilian aircraft on 24 February 1996, when he was defence minister.
“All options are on the table, to include military options,” Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said this week, underscoring a hardline tone from some US officials toward Cuba.
Washington has imposed an energy embargo on the communist-ruled island and called for political and economic reforms, while officials have publicly suggested pressure — including military options — remains a lever of US policy.
Public Display, Private Hardships
The Communist Party used the centenary week of exhibitions, concerts and conferences to rally party members and the armed forces. Attendees chanted “I am Fidel” and applauded repeatedly during speeches and performances.
For many ordinary Cubans, however, the anniversary offered little consolation. The island is grappling with rolling blackouts, shortages of basic goods and intense summer heat. A presidential statement in June said a package of economic reforms had been approved to address the crisis, but daily hardships remain acute for many residents.
The programme at the Karl Marx Theatre included La Colmenita, a children’s theatre company long associated with Fidel Castro. Near the end of the performance Raul Castro stood and signalled to the audience to rise and applaud.
Observers say the event was as much about consolidating internal support and projecting stability as it was about commemorating Fidel’s legacy, set against a backdrop of international pressure and domestic strain.
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