US indicts former Cuban President Raul Castro over 1996 plane shootdown
Federal prosecutors charge Raul Castro with murder and conspiracy in connection with the downing of Brothers to the Rescue aircraft, as Washington balances backchannel negotiations with public sanctions.
United States federal prosecutors have indicted former Cuban President Raul Castro in connection with the 1996 downing of civilian aircraft operated by the Miami-based exile group Brothers to the Rescue. The indictment, unsealed on Wednesday, charges Castro with one count of conspiracy to kill US nationals, four counts of murder, and two counts of destroying an aircraft.
The US Justice Department alleges that Castro, who served as Cuba’s defence minister at the time, played a leading role in the decision to shoot down the planes on February 24, 1996. The attack killed four people and triggered international condemnation, with US officials and international investigators stating the planes were attacked over international waters, while Cuba maintained the aircraft had violated or approached its airspace.
This legal action represents one of the sharpest escalations in tensions between Washington and Havana in recent years. It occurs amidst a broader US pressure campaign against the Cuban government, which includes recent sanctions on Cuba’s intelligence agency and senior officials. The timing coincides with a visit by CIA Director John Ratcliffe to Havana for ongoing negotiations, suggesting a complex diplomatic landscape where public legal pressure runs parallel to backchannel discussions.
Analysts suggest the indictment may be linked to domestic political factors in the United States. Orlando Perez, a political science professor at the University of North Texas at Dallas, noted that President Donald Trump’s approval ratings have dropped to 34 percent in a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll, amid backlash over the US-Israeli war in Iran and other issues. Perez indicated the administration may hope the pressure forces a compromise from Havana that can be framed as a political victory ahead of the midterm elections.
However, Perez warned that the move could backfire by strengthening hardliners within Cuba’s communist base. He described Raul Castro, aged 94, as the "legitimacy anchor for the regime," noting that the Cuban government is unlikely to surrender him. The Cuban government has not immediately commented on the indictment, while tensions remain high following reports that Havana has acquired over 300 military drones from Russia and Iran.
