State television footage broadcast on Saturday showed Castro, dressed in his trademark olive-green military uniform, receiving a standing ovation as he entered a packed auditorium at Cuba’s Ministry of Interior alongside his grandson and bodyguard, Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez, and President Miguel Díaz-Canel.

The appearance comes weeks after the U.S. Justice Department accused Castro of involvement in the 1996 downing of two civilian aircraft operated by Miami-based exile groups, allegations that Havana has rejected as part of a broader campaign of political pressure against the island’s socialist government.

Addressing the gathering, Díaz-Canel praised Castro’s decades-long role in Cuba’s revolutionary leadership and portrayed him as a symbol of national resilience. The Cuban president said Castro’s political career and military service had made him a target of hostile foreign intelligence services and external pressure.

In remarks that appeared directed at Washington, Díaz-Canel warned that Cuba would respond firmly to any threat against its sovereignty. He repeated the slogan “Raúl is Raúl,” a phrase that has appeared prominently on billboards and social media campaigns across the country since the indictment was announced.

The birthday event served as a rare public appearance for Castro, who has largely withdrawn from public life since formally stepping down from the leadership of the Communist Party in 2021. Although retired from official politics, he is widely regarded as retaining significant influence within Cuba’s ruling establishment and armed forces.

The indictment marked a major escalation in already strained relations between Havana and the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump. Washington has increased economic and diplomatic pressure on Cuba in recent months, including measures that have sharply reduced fuel supplies reaching the island.

The tightening of sanctions has compounded Cuba’s long-running economic difficulties, including persistent electricity shortages, fuel scarcity and pressures on public services. Cuban officials have blamed the country’s economic challenges largely on U.S. restrictions, while Washington argues that structural reforms and political changes are necessary to address the crisis.

The Trump administration has called on Cuba to release political prisoners, undertake significant economic reforms and alter governance practices, arguing that the current system poses broader security concerns. Cuban authorities reject those assertions and maintain that the country does not threaten U.S. interests.

Friday’s celebration highlighted the continued prominence of revolutionary-era leaders in Cuba’s political narrative as the government seeks to reinforce domestic unity while confronting mounting economic strains and renewed pressure from the United States.