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US prepares charges against Raúl Castro
The US Department of Justice is reportedly finalizing an indictment against Cuba's former leader Raúl Castro for his alleged role in the 1996 shooting down of two civilian aircraft, according to unnamed officials cited by US media. The move comes as CIA Director John Ratcliffe visits Havana for high-level talks.
Background of the 1996 incident
The charges stem from the downing of two planes operated by Brothers to the Rescue, a Cuban-American group that conducted search-and-rescue missions for migrants fleeing Cuba by sea. The incident occurred on February 24, 1996, killing four people on board. At the time, Fidel Castro was president, and Raúl Castro served as armed forces minister.
Cuba has long maintained that the planes violated its airspace, though the International Civil Aviation Organization concluded the attack took place over international waters. Fidel Castro, who died in 2016, defended the action as a necessary response to repeated provocations.
Political and legal context
The potential indictment requires approval from a US grand jury, which must determine whether probable cause exists to pursue charges. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche declined to confirm the reports but told Fox News the Justice Department would address the matter "if and when" appropriate.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis praised the prospect of charges, calling them "long overdue" in a statement on Friday. Meanwhile, Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez dismissed US pressure, asserting that the island would continue its "path of sovereignty toward socialist development" despite sanctions and threats.
US-Cuba tensions escalate
The reported indictment is the latest in a series of measures by the Trump administration to increase pressure on Cuba, including an oil blockade that has worsened fuel shortages. This week, Cuba's energy minister acknowledged the country has effectively run out of fuel oil.
President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, declined to comment on the indictment but described Cuba as "a nation in decline." He has previously stated that the US aims to replace Cuba's communist leadership, telling supporters at a rally that the US would be "taking over" the island nation, located just 90 miles from Florida.
CIA visit and broader implications
CIA Director John Ratcliffe met with Cuban officials in Havana on Thursday, including Raúl Castro's grandson, Raúl Rodríguez Castro. A CIA spokesperson told CBS News that the US is open to discussions on economic and security issues but only if Cuba implements "fundamental changes."
"If the Cuban economy and social order collapses, it would actually be a disaster for the United States, because it's likely to touch off a mass migration crisis."
William LeoGrande, Professor of Latin American Politics, American University
The Cuban government framed the meeting as an effort to improve dialogue, insisting it poses no threat to US national security. The visit follows Washington's offer of $100 million in aid to mitigate the impact of its oil blockade, part of a broader strategy that included the recent ousting of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
Potential consequences
Analysts warn that any attempt to arrest Raúl Castro could provoke strong resistance in Cuba, particularly among government loyalists. William LeoGrande, an expert on US-Cuba relations, told the BBC the indictment appears to be "one more element of the pressure campaign" under Trump's administration.
LeoGrande suggested the US may be signaling to Castro to use his influence to push for concessions-or risk facing a military intervention similar to the one that removed Maduro from power in Venezuela.
