The Justice Department is preparing to seek an indictment against former Cuban President Raúl Castro, three sources familiar with the matter told The Associated Press on Friday. This development comes amid heightened tensions as President Donald Trump threatens possible military action against Cuba.
Charges Linked to 1996 Shootdown
One of the sources indicated that the potential charges are connected to Castro's alleged role in the 1996 downing of four aircraft operated by the Miami-based exile group Brothers to the Rescue. At the time, Castro served as Cuba's defense minister. All three individuals spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation.
The possible indictment, which would require grand jury approval, was reported earlier by CBS.
Background and Context
The AP reported in March that the U.S. Attorney in Miami had established a special working group of prosecutors and federal law enforcement to build cases against top Cuban officials. This followed calls by several south Florida Republicans to reopen the investigation into Castro's alleged role in the 1996 shootdown. To date, the U.S. has convicted only a single person of conspiracy to commit murder in connection with the incident.
As Trump seeks to wind down the war in Iran, speculation has been growing that he may soon turn his attention back to Cuba. Earlier this year, he pledged a “friendly takeover” of the country if its leadership did not open up its economy to American investment and expel U.S. adversaries.
Recent Diplomatic Moves
CIA Director John Ratcliffe met with Cuban officials, including Castro's grandson, during a high-level visit to the island on Thursday. Castro, 94, took over as president from his ailing brother, Fidel Castro, in 2011, and handed power to a handpicked loyalist, Miguel Díaz-Canel, in 2019. Although he has largely avoided the spotlight since retiring in 2021 as head of the Cuban Communist Party, he is widely believed to wield power behind the scenes, a fact underscored by the prominence of his grandson, Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, who previously met secretly with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
