![\"\"](\"http:\/\/stateofthenation.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/52ff678a310a4b4becc7b3e0100f0580.webp\")
<\/div>FILE PHOTO: Cuba’s former President Raul Castro watches a May Day rally in Havana, Cuba May 1, 2025. REUTERS\/Norlys Perez\/File Photo<\/h5>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nBy Jana Winter<\/p>\n
May 14 (Reuters) – The United States plans to indict Cuba’s Raul Castro, a U.S. Department of Justice official said late on Thursday.<\/p>\n
The timing \u200cof the potential indictment, which would need to be approved by a grand \u200cjury, was not immediately clear, but the official said it sounds imminent.<\/p>\n
The potential indictment of the 94-year-old former \u200bpresident of Cuba and brother of Fidel is expected to focus on the downing of aircraft, the official said on condition of anonymity.<\/p>\n
CBS previously reported that the case relates to Cuba’s deadly 1996 shootdown of planes operated by humanitarian group Brothers to the Rescue.<\/p>\n
Representatives for Cuba’s foreign \u200cministry did not immediately respond \u2060to a request for comment outside of normal business hours. A U.S. Justice Department spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for \u2060comment.<\/p>\n
The development comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Havana. The Trump administration has described Cuba’s current communist-run government as corrupt and incompetent and is pushing for a regime change.<\/p>\n
President Donald Trump \u200bhas heaped \u200bpressure on the island, effectively imposing a blockade \u200bby threatening sanctions on countries supplying \u200cit with fuel, igniting power outages and delivering blows to its economy.<\/p>\n
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida has been overseeing an effort to examine potential criminal charges against senior Cuban government officials.<\/p>\n
Officials from both countries acknowledged earlier this year that they were in talks, but the negotiations appeared to founder amid the ongoing U.S. fuel \u200cblockade.<\/p>\n
However, on Thursday, the Cuban government confirmed it had \u200bmet with CIA chief John Ratcliffe.<\/p>\n
Ratcliffe told intelligence officials \u200bin Cuba that the U.S. was \u200bprepared to engage on economic security issues if Cuba makes “fundamental changes,” \u200ca CIA official said.<\/p>\n
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nThe United States has \u200bpreviously used criminal cases \u200bagainst foreign political figures to justify military actions.<\/p>\n
In January, when the U.S. military attacked Venezuela, the Trump administration described the raid as a “law enforcement operation” to bring \u200bVenezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro to \u200cNew York to face criminal charges.<\/p>\n
Trump in March threatened that Cuba “is next” after \u200bVenezuela.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
By Jana Winter<\/p>\n
May 14 (Reuters) – The United States plans to indict Cuba’s Raul Castro, a U.S. Department of Justice official said late on Thursday.<\/p>\n
The timing \u200cof the potential indictment, which would need to be approved by a grand \u200cjury, was not immediately clear, but the official said it sounds imminent.<\/p>\n
The potential indictment of the 94-year-old former \u200bpresident of Cuba and brother of Fidel is expected to focus on the downing of aircraft, the official said on condition of anonymity.<\/p>\n
CBS previously reported that the case relates to Cuba’s deadly 1996 shootdown of planes operated by humanitarian group Brothers to the Rescue.<\/p>\n
Representatives for Cuba’s foreign \u200cministry did not immediately respond \u2060to a request for comment outside of normal business hours. A U.S. Justice Department spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for \u2060comment.<\/p>\n
The development comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Havana. The Trump administration has described Cuba’s current communist-run government as corrupt and incompetent and is pushing for a regime change.<\/p>\n
President Donald Trump \u200bhas heaped \u200bpressure on the island, effectively imposing a blockade \u200bby threatening sanctions on countries supplying \u200cit with fuel, igniting power outages and delivering blows to its economy.<\/p>\n
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida has been overseeing an effort to examine potential criminal charges against senior Cuban government officials.<\/p>\n
Officials from both countries acknowledged earlier this year that they were in talks, but the negotiations appeared to founder amid the ongoing U.S. fuel \u200cblockade.<\/p>\n
However, on Thursday, the Cuban government confirmed it had \u200bmet with CIA chief John Ratcliffe.<\/p>\n
Ratcliffe told intelligence officials \u200bin Cuba that the U.S. was \u200bprepared to engage on economic security issues if Cuba makes “fundamental changes,” \u200ca CIA official said.<\/p>\n
The United States has \u200bpreviously used criminal cases \u200bagainst foreign political figures to justify military actions.<\/p>\n
In January, when the U.S. military attacked Venezuela, the Trump administration described the raid as a “law enforcement operation” to bring \u200bVenezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro to \u200cNew York to face criminal charges.<\/p>\n
Trump in March threatened that Cuba “is next” after \u200bVenezuela.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n