US raises pressure on Cuba by indicting former leader Raúl Castro

Federal prosecutors have indicted former Cuban President Raúl Castro for his alleged role in the 1996 downing of two civilian planes operated by the Miami-based exile group Brothers to the Rescue. The indictment, which includes charges of murder and destruction of an aircraft, stems from a grand jury decision made in April. At the time of the incident, Castro served as Cuba's defense minister. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that the charges aim to provide long-overdue justice for the four Americans killed in the shootdown. While Castro remains in Cuba, U.S. officials have issued an arrest warrant for him. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has condemned the indictment as a politically motivated stunt intended to justify military aggression. The legal action coincides with increased pressure from the Trump administration, which has recently threatened regime change in Cuba. Observers note that the indictment follows the U.S. capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, signaling a potential shift in how the U.S. addresses foreign leaders. Despite his retirement from official roles, Castro is widely believed to maintain significant influence behind the scenes in Cuba. The case marks a significant escalation in tensions between the United States and the Cuban government.