Raúl Castro celebrates the centenary of his brother Fidel in his public reappearance after weeks of hiding under US pressure

Raúl Castro, 95, made a rare public appearance on Thursday in Havana to mark the centenary of his late brother Fidel Castro, emerging from weeks of seclusion amid mounting pressure from the United States. The event took place at the Karl Marx Theatre in Havana, where Castro was greeted with applause upon entering. Dressed in his olive-green military uniform, he attended the ceremony honoring Fidel's birth anniversary, which falls on August 13. This marked one of his few visible appearances since early June, when he had largely withdrawn from public view. Castro, who does not hold an official position in either the Cuban government or the Communist Party, has remained influential behind the scenes, maintaining a key role in political decisions and retaining the loyalty of the armed forces. His recent absence from public life coincided with intensified U.S. pressure against Cuba, particularly following the removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro earlier this year. In May, the U.S. formally charged Castro with crimes including murder, conspiracy to kill Americans, and destruction of aircraft, linking him to the downing of two civilian planes operated by the organization Brothers to the Rescue in 1996. At the time, Castro was serving as Cuba’s defense minister. The U.S. administration under former President Donald Trump had pursued a policy of “maximum pressure” against Cuba, especially after the January military operation that ousted Maduro, who had been Cuba’s closest ally in Latin America. Trump repeatedly described Cuba as an “extraordinary threat” to U.S. national security, warning on multiple occasions that the country could face U.S. intervention. This backdrop of heightened tensions appears to have influenced Castro’s decision to remain out of the public eye for several weeks. In June, Cuba’s presidency announced via its X account that Castro had approved a package of economic reforms aimed at addressing the island’s ongoing crisis, despite intense pressure from Washington. His last public appearance before this week’s event occurred on May 1, when he was seen appearing frail outside the U.S. embassy in Havana. Despite his apparent physical condition, he led a parade marking International Workers' Day. Since then, he had remained hidden until briefly reappearing on state television during another ceremony in early June. Castro, the younger brother of the late Fidel Castro, born in 1926 and deceased in 2016, has long been viewed as a sworn enemy of the United States. The charges brought against him in May were filed in Miami by U.S. authorities, accusing him of responsibility for the deaths of four American citizens during the 1996 incident involving the downed planes. The case has drawn international attention, highlighting the complex and often adversarial relationship between the two nations. The Cuban government has consistently denied the allegations, emphasizing that the incident was a tragic accident rather than a deliberate act. Meanwhile, Castro’s presence at the centenary celebration underscores his continued symbolic importance within Cuba, even as he navigates the challenges posed by external pressures. His participation in such a high-profile event suggests that he remains engaged in shaping the nation’s political narrative, albeit from a less visible role compared to his earlier years in power. Castro’s reappearance comes at a critical moment for Cuba, as the country continues to grapple with economic hardship and geopolitical isolation. His influence, though diminished from his tenure as leader, persists through his connections with the military and his historical legacy. As the situation evolves, observers will watch closely to see whether his public engagements increase or if he continues to operate more discreetly in response to the pressures facing the Cuban regime.