United States officials are moving to indict former Cuban President Raul Castro, now 94 years old, in connection with the downing of civilian aircraft three decades ago. The potential indictment, which requires approval from a grand jury, is expected to focus on Cuba's deadly 1996 shootdown of planes operated by the humanitarian group Brothers to the Rescue.
This development comes as the U.S. intensifies pressure on the Cuban government. The Trump administration has threatened heavy tariffs on any country exporting oil to Cuba, leading to significant energy shortages as oil shipments are largely cut off. President Trump has pressed for major reforms in Cuba and has even floated the idea of a "friendly takeover" of the country.
Raul Castro formally stepped down as leader of Cuba's Communist Party in 2021, but he remains one of the most powerful figures in the nation. News of the possible indictment emerged hours after CIA Director John Ratcliffe led a delegation to Havana on May 14 to deliver a message from President Donald Trump to Cuban officials and Raulito Guillermo Rodriguez Castro, the elder Castro's grandson.
The 1996 shootdown of two civilian planes operated by the exile group Brothers to the Rescue remains one of the most politically charged episodes in modern U.S.-Cuba relations. Some U.S. officials are still seeking criminal accountability for the incident, even three decades later.
