The US Department of Justice has indicted former Cuban President Raúl Castro. The charges against Fidel Castro’s brother were released on Wednesday, accusing Raúl Castro of conspiracy to kill US citizens, destruction of an airplane, and murder. Specifically, the indictment concerns the shooting down of two civilian aircraft in 1996, an attack the US administration alleges Castro-who was serving as the Defense Minister at the time-ordered.
This action by the US government draws comparisons to the indictment of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, which occurred in January. Shortly after that indictment, Maduro was reportedly abducted by the US utilizing a military operation in January. The situation is framed within a larger context of US intervention rhetoric, recalling that Trump had previously stated in March that Cuba could undergo a “friendly takeover” although he also suggested this might be something “not friendly”.