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The Guardian World1 min read
US seeks indictment of former Cuban leader Raul Castro
TL;DR
The US plans to indict former Cuban leader Raul Castro over a 1996 incident involving the downing of planes by Cuba. This move intensifies pressure on Cuba's communist government amid ongoing sanctions.
Key points
- US plans to indict Raul Castro over a 1996 incident
- Charges relate to the downing of planes by Cuba
- Indictment aims to pressure Cuba's communist government
- US blockade halts fuel supplies to Cuba
- Raul Castro is still a powerful figure in Cuba
Mentioned in this story
Raul CastroFidel CastroBrothers to the RescueCIA
The United States is planning to indict former Cuban President Raul Castro as Washington raises the pressure on the island’s communist government.
Several US media outlets reported on Thursday that the potential charges against the 94-year-old brother of Fidel Castro relate to a 1996 incident in which Cuba shot down planes flown by the anti-Castro humanitarian group Brothers to the Rescue.
The move comes amid a US blockade that has halted virtually all fuel supplies to the island, with the Trump administration, after celebrating its overthrow of Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela, pushing for regime change.
Castro, who succeeded his brother as Cuban president, is still considered the most powerful person in the nation. Any indictment would need to be approved by a grand jury.
The reports surfaced hours after a US delegation led by CIA Director John Ratcliffe met Cuban officials in Havana, where he offered $100m in humanitarian assistance on the condition that the government agrees to “meaningful reforms”.
Escalation
Indicting Castro would mark a stunning escalation in the ongoing crisis in US-Cuba relations, which have deteriorated since US President Donald Trump took office for a second term in 2025.
Trump has repeatedly said he wants to topple Cuba’s communist-led government, warning that Cuba is “next” after the US military abduction of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
The president first cut the flow of funds and fuel from Venezuela to Cuba in January. He then threatened heavy tariffs against any country that provides Havana with oil, implementing a de facto fuel blockade on the island.
Since then, the nation of 11 million has been beset by severe fuel shortages and blackouts. Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy warned on Thursday that the country had completely run out of diesel and fuel oil.
At the same time, US officials have been exploring potential criminal charges against senior Cuban government officials, including those allegedly involved in the 1996 plane downing.
Q&A
What are the charges against Raul Castro related to?
The charges against Raul Castro relate to a 1996 incident in which Cuba shot down planes flown by the anti-Castro humanitarian group Brothers to the Rescue.
What does the US seek to achieve by indicting Raul Castro?
The US aims to increase pressure on Cuba's communist government and push for regime change amid a blockade that has severely impacted the island's fuel supplies.
Who is Raul Castro and what is his role in Cuba today?
Raul Castro is the former President of Cuba and is still considered the most powerful person in the nation, having succeeded his brother Fidel Castro.
