"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."
"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. 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."
"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. 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."
"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."
The United States is reported to be preparing potential charges against former Cuban President Raul Castro, linked to Cuba’s 1996 downing of humanitarian planes flown by Brothers to the Rescue. Any indictment would require approval by a grand jury. The reports come after a US delegation led by CIA Director John Ratcliffe met Cuban officials in Havana and offered $100 million in humanitarian assistance, conditioned on meaningful reforms. The move occurs as US pressure intensifies, including a blockade that has halted nearly all fuel supplies to Cuba. The Trump administration has pushed for regime change, and Cuba faces severe fuel shortages, blackouts, and warnings that diesel and fuel oil have run out.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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