US is expected to announce criminal case against former Cuban President Raúl Castro

The U.S. Justice Department will announce a criminal case against former Cuban President Raúl Castro, targeting his alleged involvement in the 1996 shootdown of two planes operated by the Miami-based exile group Brothers to the Rescue. Prosecutors in Miami are preparing charges of murder and destruction of an airplane, with Castro, now 94, serving as Cuba’s defense minister at the time. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and other Justice Department officials will attend a Miami ceremony to honor those killed in the incident. The announcement marks the latest escalation by the Trump administration against Cuba’s socialist government, following the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and the imposition of a blockade that has caused severe economic strain on the island. President Trump has increasingly threatened military action and regime change in Cuba, demanding economic reforms and the removal of U.S. adversaries. His administration previously indicted Maduro on drug-trafficking charges before removing him in a surprise military raid. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged Cubans to push for a free-market economy and new leadership, while Cuba’s deputy foreign minister, Carlos F. de Cossío, accused Rubio of aggression and deception. Though Castro officially retired as Cuban Communist Party leader in 2021, he is believed to retain influence behind the scenes, including through his grandson Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, who recently met secretly with Rubio. CIA Director John Ratcliffe traveled to Havana last week for discussions with Cuban officials, including Castro’s grandson, signaling continued U.S. pressure. The indictment is unlikely to result in Castro’s immediate custody, given his advanced age and Cuba’s sovereignty. The move aligns with broader U.S. efforts to isolate Cuba’s government, including economic sanctions and diplomatic pressure, as tensions between the two nations remain high.