A long-dormant international incident is being thrust back into the spotlight as US authorities prepare to pursue criminal charges against former Cuban leader Raúl Castro over a 1996 aircraft shootdown.
The expected indictment, set to be announced in Miami, revives one of the most controversial episodes in US–Cuba relations: the downing of two civilian aircraft linked to the exile group Brothers to the Rescue, which resulted in four deaths.
At the time, Castro held the role of Cuba’s Defence Minister, and Havana maintained that the aircraft had entered restricted airspace, framing the operation as a defensive response. However, US investigators and international aviation authorities concluded the planes were brought down over international waters.
The move reportedly follows a grand jury decision to proceed with charges, signalling an unusually direct legal challenge against a foreign former head of state more than 25 years after the incident.
The case also reflects a broader pattern of US legal pressure against foreign political figures, echoing earlier indictments involving Venezuelan leadership. The announcement is expected to be made at a formal Justice Department event in Miami.
Cuban officials have strongly rejected escalation rhetoric from Washington, warning that increased pressure could destabilise regional security and provoke severe consequences. The case reopens a politically sensitive chapter that has shaped decades of strained US–Cuba relations.