The potential charges relate to Cuba\u2019s 1996 downing of humanitarian planes, US media outlets report.<\/p>\n
Published On 15 May 202615 May 2026<\/p>\n
The United States is planning to indict former Cuban President Raul Castro as Washington raises the pressure on the island\u2019s communist government.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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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<\/a> in Venezuela, pushing for regime change.<\/p>\n Castro, who succeeded his brother as Cuban president, is still considered<\/a> the most powerful person in the nation. Any indictment would need to be approved by a grand jury.<\/p>\n The reports surfaced hours after a US delegation led by CIA Director John Ratcliffe met Cuban officials in Havana, where he offered $100m<\/a> in humanitarian assistance on the condition that the government agrees to \u201cmeaningful reforms\u201d.<\/p>\n Escalation<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Trump has repeatedly said he wants to topple<\/a> Cuba\u2019s communist-led government,\u00a0warning that Cuba is \u201cnext\u201d after the US military abduction<\/a> of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.<\/p>\n The president first cut the flow of funds and fuel from Venezuela to Cuba in January.\u00a0He then threatened heavy tariffs<\/a> against any country that provides Havana with oil, implementing a de facto fuel blockade on the island.<\/p>\n