US reportedly preparing to charge former Cuban leader Raúl Castro
US prosecutors are reportedly preparing to file charges against former Cuban leader Raúl Castro as soon as next week. The case is said to focus on Cuba's 1996 shoot-down of two civilian aircraft off Florida. The move would mark a fresh rupture in an already strained Washington-Havana relationship.
According to BBC Latin America, US federal prosecutors are preparing to charge Raúl Castro directly over Cuba's 1996 downing of two Brothers to the Rescue civilian planes. Four people, mostly American citizens, were killed in that attack. The indictment is reportedly expected to be announced next week.
The case has long been seen as one held back for political reasons. The Trump administration has been tightening sanctions on Havana, even as Cuba's energy and food crises deepen. In recent weeks, the CIA director was reported to have made an unannounced visit to the island.
Regional implications are being watched closely. Caribbean and Central American governments warn that fresh pressure on Cuba could disrupt humanitarian corridors and energy flows. Caracas and Managua are likely to reject the charges and rally around Castro; in Washington, advocacy by Cuban-American communities could shape the campaign calendar as US elections approach.
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