U.S media outlets reported on Thursday that the United States is seeking to indict former President of Cuba Raul Castro, amid increasing efforts by Washington to overthrow the nation’s communist government. The Donald Trump administration aims to charge Castro on account of a 1996 incident in which Cuba shot down planes flown by the anti-Castro humanitarian group Brothers to the Rescue.
The United States has currently imposed a blockade on fuel supplies from reaching the island, after overthrowing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
The brother of late Cuban nationalist Fidel Castro, Raul Castro is still considered to be the most powerful person in the country. Therefore, any indictment against him would need to be approved by a grand jury.
The United States officials are also looking into potential criminal charges that can be levied onto senior Cuban government officials, including those accused of being involved in the 1996 plane incident.
A U.S delegation led by CIA Director John Ratcliffe had earlier met Cuban officials in Havan, where he offered $100 million in humanitarian aid, provided that the government agrees to “meaningful reforms”.
The relations between Havana and Washington have worsened since Trump took over the office for his second term in 2025.
After his operation in Venezuela, the American President has repeatedly warned that Cuba is “next”, hinting at dismantling its communist government.
He cut the flow of funds from Venezuela to Cuba in January and also threatened heavy tariffs against any nation that supplies Havana with oil. This has led to severe fuel shortages across the country, with protests breaking out earlier this week over long-standing blackouts. Cuban Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy said on Thursday that the nation had completely run out of diesel and fuel oil.
The United Nations had condemned Trump’s blockade last week, calling it unlawful and that it obstructed the “Cuban people’s right to development while undermining their rights to food, education, health, and water and sanitation”.
