News & Analysis thehindu.com

Raul Castro | The old man and the siege

24 May 2026 Source

Exam Summary

The article details the recent indictment of former Cuban President Raul Castro by the Trump administration over a 1996 shootdown incident, highlighting the long and contentious history of U.S.-Cuba relations. It covers the U.S. economic blockade (embargo) against Cuba, key events like the Bay of Pigs invasion and the Cuban Missile Crisis, and Raul Castro's significant role in the Cuban Revolution and subsequent governance. The piece also discusses the brief thaw in relations under the Obama administration and its subsequent reversal and tightening of the embargo under Trump, emphasizing the ongoing geopolitical tensions.

GS Paper 2: International Relations

UPSC concepts in this story

These are durable syllabus ideas — use them for revision, not article memory.

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Exam Themes

Prelims Takeaways

  • Understand the historical context of U.S.-Cuba relations, including the long-standing economic embargo since 1962.
  • Key figures of the Cuban Revolution Fidel Castro, Raul Castro, and Che Guevara.
  • The significance of the Helms-Burton Act in tightening the U.S. embargo on Cuba.
  • Cuba's internationalist role, particularly its intervention in Angola and its contribution to accelerating the end of apartheid in southern Africa.
  • The brief period of thawing U.S.-Cuba relations under President Obama and its subsequent reversal under the Trump administration, including Cuba's redesignation as a 'state sponsor of terrorism'.

Elimination Traps

  • Confusing the specific roles and timelines of Fidel and Raul Castro in key historical events.
  • Misinterpreting the reasons behind the U.S. embargo and its various phases.
  • Overlooking the provocations that led to the 1996 shootdown incident.

Static Concepts

  • Economic blockade/embargo
  • Guerrilla warfare
  • Cold War
  • Apartheid
  • State sponsor of terrorism (designation)

Probable Question Areas

Question areas
  • Match the following historical events (e.g., Bay of Pigs, Cuban Missile Crisis, Angola intervention) with associated countries or leaders.
Question areas
  • Statements regarding the U.S. embargo on Cuba, its objectives, and its impact.
Question areas
  • Questions about the Helms-Burton Act and its provisions.
Question areas
  • Chronological ordering of significant events in U.S.-Cuba relations.
Question areas
  • The role of Cuba in international anti-colonial or anti-apartheid movements.
Conceptual Recurrence

Related Prelims PYQs

Ranked by topic match, theme match, recency, and recurring UPSC patterns.

UPSC Prelims 2016 International Relations

Consider the following statements regarding the India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS):
1. The summit held in 2015 marked the third edition of the IAFS.
2. The IAFS mechanism was instituted under the leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru in 1951.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. A. 1 only
  2. B. 2 only
  3. C. Both 1 and 2
  4. D. Neither 1 nor 2
Explanation
Correct answer
A. 1 only

Statement 1 is correct: The Third India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS-III) was hosted in New Delhi in October 2015. The first and second summits were held in 2008 (New Delhi) and 2011 (Addis Ababa), respectively, making the 2015 event the third edition. Statement 2 is incorrect: The India-Africa Forum Summit was institutionalized in 2008 to serve as the official platform for African-Indian relations. While Jawaharlal Nehru was a pioneer of Afro-Asian solidarity (e.g., the Asian Relations Conference of 1947), the IAFS is a distinct 21st-century initiative and was not established in 1951.

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UPSC Prelims 2018 International Relations

The term "two-state solution" is sometimes mentioned in the news in the context of the affairs of -

  1. A. China
  2. B. Israel
  3. C. Iraq
  4. D. Yemen
Explanation
Correct answer
B. Israel

The Two-State Solution is used in the context of the Israel-Palestine issue. It envisages an independent State of Palestine alongside the State of Israel west of the Jordan River.

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UPSC Prelims 2024 International Relations

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: Recently, Venezuela has achieved a rapid recovery from its economic crisis and succeeded in preventing its people from fleeing/emigrating to other countries.
Statement-II: Venezuela has the world's largest oil reserves.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
  2. B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
  3. C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
  4. D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct
Explanation
Correct answer
D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Statement-I: Incorrect. Venezuela continues to suffer from a severe economic crisis marked by hyperinflation, shortages of basic goods, and political instability. This crisis has led to a massive exodus of Venezuelans seeking better living conditions in neighboring countries and beyond. Statement-II: Correct. Venezuela indeed possesses the world's largest proven oil reserves, surpassing even Saudi Arabia. However, despite this vast resource wealth, economic mismanagement, corruption, and international sanctions have crippled its oil industry and hindered its ability to leverage this asset for economic recovery.

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UPSC Prelims 2022 International Relations

Consider the following statements:

1. Bidibidi is a large refugee settlement in north -western Kenya.
2. Some people who fled from South Sudan civil war live in Bidibidi.
3. Some people who fled from civil war in Somalia live in Dadaab refugee complex in Kenya.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. A. 1 and 2
  2. B. 2 only
  3. C. 3 only
  4. D. 2 and 3
Explanation
Correct answer
D. 2 and 3

Statement 1 is Incorrect: Bidibidi is a large refugee settlement in northwestern Uganda, not Kenya. Statement 2 is Correct: People fleeing the civil war in South Sudan have been hosted in the Bidibidi settlement. Statement 3 is Correct: The Dadaab refugee complex is located in Kenya and houses refugees, including those who fled the civil war in Somalia. Therefore, the correct statements are 2 and 3 only.

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UPSC Prelims 2022 International Relations

With reference to the United Nations General Assembly, consider the following statements:
1. The UN General Assembly can grant observer status to the non-member States.
2. Inter-governmental organisations can seek observer status in the UN General Assembly.
3. Permanent Observers in the UN General Assembly can maintain missions at the UN headquarters.

Which of the statements given above are correct ?

  1. A. 1 and 2 only
  2. B. 2 and 3 only
  3. C. 1 and 3 only
  4. D. 1, 2 and 3
Explanation
Correct answer
D. 1, 2 and 3

Statement 1 is correct. The United Nations General Assembly may grant non-member states, international organizations, and other entities Permanent Observer Status. Statement 2 is correct. The General Assembly decided that observer status would be confined to States and intergovernmental organizations whose activities cover matters of interest to the Assembly. Statement 3 is correct. Permanent Observers may participate in the sessions and workings of the General Assembly and maintain missions at the UN Headquarters.

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UPSC Prelims 2015 International Relations

In the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, an initiative of six countries, which of the following is/are not participant/ participants?
1. Bangladesh
2. Cambodia
3. China
4. Myanmar
5. Thailand

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

  1. A. 1 only
  2. B. 2, 3 and 4
  3. C. 1 and 3 only
  4. D. 1, 2 and 5 only
Explanation
Correct answer
C. 1 and 3 only

All 6 participants of the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation are member countries bordering the basins of the Mekong and Ganga rivers, aiming to collaborate on various initiatives. These countries are: - India - Cambodia - Laos - Myanmar - Thailand - Vietnam Hence, China & Bangladesh are not part of the Mekong-Ganga Corporation.

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UPSC Prelims 2024 International Relations

Consider the following pairs :

Country | Reason for being in the news|
|- | -|
|1. Argentina | Worst economic crisis|
|2. Sudan | War between the country's regular army and paramilitary forces|
|3. Turkey | Rescinded its membership of NATO|

How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

  1. A. Only one pair
  2. B. Only two pairs
  3. C. All three pairs
  4. D. None of the pairs
Explanation
Correct answer
B. Only two pairs

* Argentina - Worst economic crisis: Correct. Argentina has been facing a severe economic crisis for a while, marked by high inflation, debt, and poverty. * Sudan - War between the country's regular army and paramilitary forces: Correct. Sudan has been engulfed in a violent conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. * Turkey - Rescinded its membership of NATO: Incorrect. Turkey has not rescinded its membership of NATO. While there have been tensions between Turkey and other NATO members, it remains a member. _Therefore, only two out of the three pairs are correctly matched._

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UPSC Prelims 2023 International Relations

Consider the following statements:
Statement-I :Israel has established diplomatic relations with some Arab States.
Statement-II :The 'Arab Peace Initiative' Mediated by Saudi Arabia was signed by Israel and Arab League.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement- II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
  2. B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement- II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
  3. C. Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
  4. D. Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct
Explanation
Correct answer
C. Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect

* Statement I is correct: Several Arab states, including Egypt, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan, have established diplomatic relations with Israel. * Statement II is incorrect: The Arab Peace Initiative, mediated by Saudi Arabia, was endorsed by the Arab League but not signed by Israel. It outlines a path towards peace in exchange for Israeli concessions, but Israel has not formally accepted all its terms.

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UPSC Prelims 2023 International Relations

Consider the following pairs : Area of conflict mentioned in news Country where it is located
1. Donbas : Syria
2. Kachin : Ethiopia
3. Tigray : North Yemen

How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

  1. A. Only one
  2. B. Only two
  3. C. All three
  4. D. None
Explanation
Correct answer
D. None

* The Donbas is a historical, cultural, and economic region in eastern Ukraine. It has two heavily industrialised regions of Donetsk and Luhansk which were occupied by Russian forces last year. Hence, pair 1 is not correctly matched. * Kachin State is the northernmost state of Myanmar. In 2022, Myanmar military air * strikes reportedly killed dozens of people including civilians at a concert in Kachin State. Hence, pair 2 is not correctly matched. * Tigray is Ethiopia's northernmost region. The region is at the centre of an ongoing civil conflict involving ethno-regional militias, the federal government, and the Eritrean military that has attracted the concern of humanitarian groups and external actors since November 2020. In October 2022, the first formal African Union-led peace talks between an Ethiopian government team and Tigray forces happened in South Africa. Hence, pair 3 is not correctly matched.

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UPSC Prelims 2018 International Relations

In the Indian context, what is the implication of ratifying the 'Additional Protocol' with the `International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)'?

  1. A. The civilian nuclear reactors come under IAEA safeguards.
  2. B. The military nuclear installations come under the inspection of IAEA.
  3. C. The country will have the privilege to buy uranium from the Nuclear Suppliers Group NSG.
  4. D. The country automatically becomes a member of the NSG.
Explanation
Correct answer
A. The civilian nuclear reactors come under IAEA safeguards.

India signed the Additional Protocol to the IAEA safeguards agreement on May 15, 2009. An additional protocol to the Safeguards Agreement between the Government of India and the IAEA for the Application of Safeguards to Civilian Nuclear Facilities entered into force on 25 July 2014. Hence option 1 is correct.

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