Cuba's Raul Castro joins May Day march as tensions simmer with US
Ninety-four-year-old former Cuban leader Raul Castro participated in a May Day march in Havana, where thousands demonstrated amid escalating tensions with the United States. The U.S. has imposed an oil blockade and expanded sanctions, citing national security concerns, while Cuba claims widespread public support for resisting external threats. Despite diplomatic talks, no agreement has been reached, and Cuba faces growing economic and humanitarian challenges.
- ▪Raul Castro joined a May Day march in Havana that passed near the U.S. embassy, highlighting rising U.S.-Cuba tensions.
- ▪The U.S. has imposed an oil blockade and expanded sanctions targeting individuals and entities linked to Cuba's security apparatus.
- ▪Over half a million people attended the march in Havana, though it was scaled back due to fuel shortages caused by the blockade.
- ▪A book with over 6 million Cuban signatures was presented to Raul Castro, symbolizing national resistance to potential U.S. military action.
- ▪Raul Castro appeared fatigued during the event and suddenly sat down, raising concerns about his health.
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Cuba's Raul Castro joins May Day march as tensions simmer with USSign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inboxPublished May 02, 2026, 12:53 AMUpdated May 02, 2026, 12:58 AMListenHAVANA, May 1 - Ninety-four-year-old former leader Raul Castro joined thousands of Cubans in an International Workers' Day march on Friday that passed through the capital of Havana's waterfront and by the U.S. embassy as tensions between the nations reach near-unprecedented levels.Washington has repeatedly suggested that it could take military action against the communist-run Caribbean island and since January has imposed an oil blockade, forcing authorities to ration key services and the U.N.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Straits Times — World.