China and Russia condemn U.S. criminal charges against former Cuban president Raul Castro
China has criticised the United States for filing criminal charges against former Cuban president Raul Castro, in a fresh diplomatic clash over pressure on Cuba. Russia has also said the U.S. actions cannot be condoned. The dispute adds to tensions between Washington and two of Cuba's major international backers, with the immediate focus on the Trump administration's latest move against the island.
Sponsored
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said on Thursday that the United States needed to stop using sanctions and judicial measures against Cuba. He also said Washington should stop threatening Cuba with force at every turn. The comments came after the U.S. on Wednesday took the legal step against Raul Castro, according to the supplied material.
The row matters because it brings together legal pressure, sanctions policy and diplomatic signalling in one case. Cuba has long been a point of contention in relations between Washington and governments that oppose U.S. coercive measures. The latest exchange shows that the issue is still capable of drawing public criticism from Beijing and Moscow, both of which framed the U.S. move as unacceptable.
The supplied material does not give the full details of the charges, and it is not clear what immediate legal consequences Raul Castro may face. It also does not say how Cuba's government has responded. What is clear is that the U.S. action has prompted a coordinated political reaction from China and Russia, underlining the wider international sensitivity around Cuba policy.
Sponsored
The incident comes against a broader backdrop of long-running U.S.-Cuba tensions, in which sanctions and judicial measures have often been used as tools of pressure. Raul Castro remains a significant figure in Cuba's recent political history, having served as president before stepping down. The fact that Beijing and Moscow have both spoken out suggests the dispute is being read not only as a bilateral issue, but also as part of wider great-power competition over influence in the Caribbean.
What remains unclear is the exact scope of the U.S. charges, whether further measures will follow, and whether Cuba will issue a formal response. It is also not yet known whether China or Russia will take any practical diplomatic steps beyond public condemnation. The next developments to watch are any statement from Havana, any clarification from Washington, and whether the dispute broadens into a wider exchange at the diplomatic level.
Sponsored
