U.S. authorities have officially filed criminal charges against Raul Castro. This was reported by Reuters, citing a senior official from President Donald Trump's administration.
The source did not specify what exactly the charges are about.
Earlier, several American media outlets, citing sources, reported that the charges would be related to the 1996 incident when the Cuban Air Force shot down two civilian planes belonging to the Cuban diaspora in the U.S. that were searching for Cuban refugees at sea. Four people died in that incident.
According to Reuters, the filing of charges against Raul Castro "marks a new low point in relations" between Cuba and the U.S.
Raul Castro is one of the leaders of the Cuban Revolution of 1959. He held high positions in Cuba for decades and became the de facto (and later official) leader of the country in 2006 due to his brother Fidel Castro's illness. In 2018, Raul Castro relinquished his powers.
Under Donald Trump, the U.S. significantly increased pressure on the Cuban authorities and effectively imposed a fuel blockade on the island starting in early 2026. The White House did not hide its aim to remove Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel from power.
In the editorial's view, the filing of criminal charges against Raul Castro could become one of the most high-profile episodes of U.S.-Cuban confrontation in recent years. This move could further escalate tensions between the countries and ultimately bury hopes for a quick restoration of dialogue between Washington and Havana.
