Cuba's former president Raúl Castro indicted in the US

TT

Updated 21.29 | Published 18.58

 

Cuban's former president Raúl Castro, in the middle, together with President Miguel Díaz-Canel, with the flag in his hand, during this year's May Day celebration in Havana. Photo: Ramon Espinosa/AP/TT

The US Department of Justice is indicting Cuba's 94-year-old former president Raúl Castro.

A big moment, according to Donald Trump.

Political theater to justify a military aggression, Cuba counters.

The process concerns the shooting down 30 years ago of two planes belonging to a Cuban exile group.

Castro, who was defense minister at the time of the incident, is accused of murder, among other things.

“We expect him to show up here of his own accord or otherwise and be put in prison,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche at a press conference in Miami.

The announcement comes as the United States has been putting pressure on Havana, and has sparked fresh 

speculation about whether Washington is planning to overthrow Cuba’s communist government.

“Falling apart”

When the United States attacked Venezuela in January and kidnapped President Nicolás Maduro, Donald Trump used a legal process to justify the attack.

“This is a big moment,” Trump told reporters when asked about the indictment on Wednesday.

He added that “there will be no escalation.”

“I don’t think it’s necessary. The place (Cuba) is falling apart. It’s a mess, they’ve kind of lost control.”

Energy crisis

Following the attack on Venezuela, Washington has cut off fuel supplies to Cuba, leading to an acute energy shortage and a deepening economic crisis. Trump has also threatened to take control of the island on several occasions.

The indictment of Castro is a “political maneuver completely without legal basis” with the aim of “justifying the madness of a military aggression against Cuba,” Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel wrote on X.

Earlier on Wednesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged the Cuban people to demand a new government.

“We are ready to begin a new chapter in the relationship between our peoples,” Rubio said in a video statement in Spanish.

Raúl Castro formally stepped down as leader of Cuba’s Communist Party in 2021, but is still seen as one of the country’s most powerful figures. He is the brother of revolutionary leader and former president Fidel Castro.