Mariela Castro, daughter of Army General Raúl Castro, stated on Friday at Havana's Anti-Imperialist Tribune that her father has responded with a smile to the formal charges filed by the United States Department of Justice. She warned that any attempt to capture him would "backfire."
Her comments came after a large gathering organized by the Cuban regime in front of the U.S. Embassy, in response to the criminal charges announced on May 20 — Cuba's Independence Day — at the Freedom Tower in Miami.
In an interview with BreakThrough News, Mariela Castro was unequivocal: "My father will die fighting if necessary." She added that, according to what he has expressed to her, "No one will take me alive; they’ll catch me fighting."
Describing Raúl Castro's reaction to the news, his daughter depicted a calm demeanor: "When it's mentioned to him, he smiles. Like an old guerrilla who knows he’s secure, ready for anything, and confident that no one will abduct him."
Mariela Castro condemned the U.S. accusation as a "blatant lie" and issued a direct challenge to Washington from the platform: "They said they were coming today, we're waiting for them," referring to rumors of a possible U.S. military operation similar to the one that brought former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to justice in January 2026.
She also dismissed any personal fears: "No one is going to kidnap him. I can assure you of that. Neither him nor anyone else."
Regarding U.S. pressures on Cuba, Mariela Castro insisted that the regime would not be intimidated.
"Every excuse they've used has backfired. They're trying to escalate, introducing more serious, exaggerated, and colorful claims, but it will fail again," she stated.
The indictment, approved by a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Florida on April 23, 2026, includes charges of conspiracy to murder U.S. citizens, destruction of civilian aircraft, and four counts of homicide related to the downing of the Brothers to the Rescue planes on February 24, 1996. Along with Raúl Castro, five other former Cuban military officers were charged.
Raúl Castro, aged 94, did not appear at Friday's event. Cuba lacks an extradition treaty with the United States, making the charges largely symbolic, although Secretary of State Marco Rubio referred to him as a "fugitive" and, when asked about a possible capture operation, said, "I won’t discuss how we would bring him here."
Understanding U.S. Charges Against Raúl Castro
What are the charges against Raúl Castro?
The charges include conspiracy to murder U.S. citizens, destruction of civilian aircraft, and four counts of homicide related to the downing of the Brothers to the Rescue planes in 1996.
How has the Cuban regime responded to the U.S. charges?
The Cuban regime, represented by Mariela Castro, has dismissed the charges as a blatant lie and expressed confidence that no harm will come to Raúl Castro.
What is the significance of the charges given the lack of an extradition treaty?
Without an extradition treaty between Cuba and the United States, the charges are largely symbolic, though they do put international pressure on Cuba.