Former Cuban Leader Raúl Castro Shows Up at Military Event

Raúl Castro, the former president of Cuba, made a rare public appearance at a military ceremony over the weekend. Cuban state television showed him walking with top military officials and sitting in the front row at an indoor event. He stood up several times to receive an award and greet people at the ceremony. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel posted photos of the event on social media, confirming Castro was there.

The ceremony marked the 65th anniversary of Cuba's Personal Security Directorate, a government security agency. President Díaz-Canel wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, that it was 'an honor' to take part in the event alongside Raúl Castro. He noted that the agency's roots go back even further, to the days of the revolutionary struggle led by Fidel Castro, Raúl's older brother. The post included several photos showing the two leaders together.

Raúl Castro no longer holds any official role in Cuba's government or its Communist Party. Because of this, he is rarely seen at public events. Rumors about his health had been spreading recently, especially after he missed a major July rally for the first time in decades. That rally marks the anniversary of one of the most important moments in Cuba's revolution.

In June, the U.S. Department of Justice charged Castro with murder. The charges are connected to the 1996 shooting down of small planes that belonged to a group that opposed the Cuban government. Those planes had flown into Cuban airspace as part of efforts to push for political change on the island. Castro has not responded publicly to the charges.

Cuba and the United States have had a tense relationship for many years. The U.S. has placed an oil and money blockade on Cuba since January, meaning it has blocked Cuba from getting oil and cut off financial support. Earlier this year, Castro's grandson took part in talks with U.S. officials, but those talks have since stopped. Sanctions, which are penalties meant to pressure a country's government, have only increased since then.

The blockade has made life very hard for people living in Cuba. The country has been going through a serious crisis for about five years, and the blockade has made things worse. Power outages lasting more than 30 hours have affected many Cuban families. Both governments have admitted that talks took place, but no details about what was discussed have been shared with the public.