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[POLITICS] · Cuba, United States · 29 sources

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Cuba's Díaz‑Canel leads July 26 rally; Raul Castro absent

Cuba held its traditional July 26 rally in the eastern city of Pinar del Río to mark the 73rd anniversary of the 1953 Moncada assault that sparked the revolution. President Miguel Díaz‑Canel presided over the ceremony and read a congratulatory message from former President Raul Castro to the assembled crowd.

For the first time in more than three decades, 95‑year‑old Raul Castro did not attend the event, and no explanation was offered. The rally commemorated the failed attack on the Moncada and Carlos Manuel de Céspedes barracks led by Fidel and Raul Castro.

In his speech, Díaz‑Canel rejected a recent U.S. State Department report that accuses Cuba of operating a left‑wing espionage and influence network. He condemned U.S. policy as “a coldly calculated genocide” and “maximum pressure”. The Cuban government also dismissed a U.S. indictment that charged Raul Castro with murder and other crimes for his alleged role in the 1996 downing of two civilian aircraft. U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated his desire to “take over” the island after a January attack on Venezuela and cited an oil embargo that has crippled Cuba’s economy.

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Cuba · Donald Trump · Miguel Díaz‑Canel · Moncada assault · Raúl Castro · United States

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about 2 months ago