WASHINGTON — Federal prosecutors have filed charges against former Cuban President Raúl Castro, marking the most recent escalation in the Trump administration’s ongoing pressure campaign targeting the Caribbean nation’s socialist leadership.
Castro faces allegations related to his involvement in the 1996 downing of two aircraft operated by Brothers to the Rescue, a Miami-based exile organization. Castro served as defense minister during that incident.
President Donald Trump has intensified discussions about regime change in Cuba following military operations in Venezuela earlier this year that resulted in President Nicolás Maduro’s capture. Additionally, a White House-imposed economic blockade has caused power outages, food scarcity, and widespread economic collapse throughout Cuba.
The charges arrive during a period of escalating friction between Trump’s administration and Cuban leadership. Simultaneously, the United States maintains an unstable ceasefire in its conflict with Iran.
Following the Venezuelan operation that led to Maduro’s capture, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated Cuba’s government was “in a lot of trouble,” while the president renewed demands for American control of Greenland.
Trump issued a stern warning to Cuban leadership as Venezuela’s close ally prepared for possible civil unrest after Maduro’s removal. Trump urged the Cuban government “to make a deal BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.”
Cuba’s president, Miguel Díaz-Canel, replied, “Those who turn everything into a business, even human lives, have no moral authority to point the finger at Cuba in any way, absolutely in any way.”
Trump enacted an executive order establishing tariffs on goods from nations that sell or supply oil to Cuba, a measure that could further devastate the island’s economy.
One day before the Iranian conflict commenced, Trump revealed the United States was conducting discussions with Havana and suggested the possibility of a “friendly takeover of Cuba,” without providing specifics.
Trump mentioned that Rubio was engaging with Cuban officials “at a very high level.”
While Trump didn’t elaborate on his statements, he appeared to suggest that the Cuba situation, involving one of Washington’s most bitter enemies for decades, was reaching a crucial juncture.
Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, Castro’s grandson known as “Raúlito,” conducted a private meeting with Rubio during a Caribbean Community summit in St. Kitts in February.
Díaz-Canel confirmed that Cuba and the United States conducted negotiations, representing the first official acknowledgment by the Caribbean nation of widely speculated discussions with the Trump administration during an energy emergency.
He explained the talks “were aimed at finding solutions through dialogue to the bilateral differences between our two nations. International factors facilitated these exchanges.”
A sanctioned Russian oil vessel reached Cuba, marking the first fuel delivery to the island in three months.
Díaz-Canel declared he would not step down from office.
Two high-ranking State Department officials — Jeremy Lewin, who oversees all U.S. foreign assistance, and Michael Kozak, the senior U.S. diplomat for Latin America — headed a delegation to Havana and conducted meetings with Rodríguez Castro, according to a U.S. official with knowledge of the encounters.
Díaz-Canel stated in an interview that he would not resign and that the United States lacks legitimate grounds to conduct military action against the island or attempt his removal.
During an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” the president indicated that a Cuban invasion would be expensive and threaten regional stability.
Díaz-Canel addressed a rally attended by hundreds to mark the 65th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution’s socialist declaration.
“The moment is extremely challenging and calls upon us once again, as on April 16, 1961, to be ready to confront serious threats, including military aggression. We do not want it, but it is our duty to prepare to avoid it and, if it becomes inevitable, to defeat it,” Díaz-Canel stated.
Reports surfaced that an American delegation recently conducted meetings with Cuban government representatives, indicating renewed diplomatic efforts. This marked at least the third encounter with Rodríguez Castro.
A senior State Department official met with Rodríguez Castro earlier that month, according to a department representative who wasn’t authorized for public comment and spoke anonymously regarding the sensitive issue.
The official didn’t identify which U.S. representatives met with Rodríguez Castro, whose grandfather reportedly maintains significant influence in Cuban government despite lacking an official position. A second U.S. official confirmed Rubio wasn’t part of the Havana delegation.
A Cuban diplomat at the United Nations declared that Havana would reject any American “ultimatums” demanding political prisoner releases as part of renewed negotiations.
In an Associated Press interview, Cuban Ambassador to the U.N. Ernesto Soberón Guzmán said internal matters concerning detainees “are not on the negotiating table.” Political prisoner releases were a primary U.S. requirement as the longtime enemies conducted discussions in Cuba for the first time in ten years.
Senate Republicans blocked Democratic legislation that would have required Trump to terminate the U.S. energy blockade on Cuba without Congressional authorization.
The war powers resolution vote demonstrated continued Republican support for Trump as he acts independently to project American power across various global conflicts, including Venezuela, Iran and Cuba — among the U.S.’s nearest neighbors.
U.S. officials stated the United States wasn’t considering immediate military action against Havana despite Trump’s repeated warnings that “Cuba is next” and that American naval vessels deployed in the Middle East for the Iran conflict could return via the island.
Officials participating in preliminary discussions with Cuban authorities also informed the AP that they remain pessimistic about the communist government accepting an offer including tens of millions in humanitarian aid, two years of complimentary Starlink internet service for all Cubans, agricultural support and infrastructure assistance.
However, they noted Cuba hadn’t completely rejected the proposal, which included conditions the government has historically opposed, even after the Trump administration implemented additional sanctions on Havana.
U.S. and Cuban officials confirmed that CIA Director John Ratcliffe conducted meetings with Cuban representatives including Raúl Castro’s grandson during a senior-level island visit.
Ratcliffe met with Rodríguez Castro, Interior Minister Lázaro Álvarez Casas and the Cuban intelligence chief, discussing intelligence collaboration, economic stability and security matters. A CIA official verified the meetings to the AP.
The Justice Department was preparing to pursue charges against Castro, three sources familiar with the situation informed the AP.
One source indicated the potential charges were related to Castro’s suspected involvement in the 1996 downing of two aircraft operated by Miami-based exile group Brothers to the Rescue. Castro held the defense minister position during that period.
All three sources requested anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss an active investigation. The Cuban government didn’t respond to requests for comment regarding the potential charges, which CBS initially reported.
The State Department implemented additional sanctions on multiple Cuban government entities, including the Interior Ministry and National Police and Intelligence Directorate, as the Trump administration continued increasing pressure on the island.
Federal prosecutors announced grand jury charges against Castro regarding the downing of the two Brothers to the Rescue aircraft in 1996.
