Cuba recently strongly condemned what it described as a “despicable” accusation by the United States Department of Justice against former Cuban President Raúl Castro.
Washington recently announced criminal charges against the 94-year-old revolutionary leader, a move political observers view as the latest escalation in already strained relations between the United States and Cuba.
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According to U.S. officials, Castro faces charges including conspiracy to kill U.S. nationals, destruction of an aircraft, and multiple counts of murder connected to the 1996 downing of two civilian planes operated by the Miami-based exile group Brothers to the Rescue. Four men were killed in the incident, including three American citizens. At the time, Castro was serving as Cuba’s defense minister and is accused of authorizing the attack.
Speaking at Freedom Tower in Miami, Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche said the United States would pursue charges related to the deaths of Armando Alejandre Jr., Carlos Alberto Costa, Mario Manuel de la Peña, and Pablo Morales.
“The United States, and President Trump, does not, and will not, forget its citizens,” Blanche stated.
In response, the Cuban Embassy rejected the charges, insisting that the United States “lacks the legitimacy and jurisdiction” to pursue the case. Havana described the indictment as a politically motivated provocation rooted in what it called a dishonest interpretation of the 1996 incident.
Cuban officials argued that the Brothers to the Rescue organization had repeatedly violated Cuban airspace during the mid-1990s despite numerous warnings from Cuban authorities. The government said formal complaints had been submitted to the U.S. State Department, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) regarding more than 25 alleged violations between 1994 and 1996.
According to Havana, Cuban authorities had repeatedly warned that continued incursions into its airspace could result in serious consequences. Cuba maintains that its actions constituted legitimate self-defense under international law, including the United Nations Charter and the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation.
The Cuban government also accused the United States of hypocrisy, arguing that Washington itself has used military force in international waters and foreign territories under the justification of national security and anti-drug operations.
Havana further claimed the indictment forms part of a broader effort by anti-Cuban groups and U.S. officials to intensify pressure on the island through sanctions, economic restrictions, and threats of military action.
Despite the mounting tensions, Cuba reaffirmed its commitment to defending its sovereignty and expressed unwavering support for Castro, whom officials continue to describe as a central figure of the Cuban Revolution.
The case is expected to further deepen diplomatic tensions between Washington and Havana at a time when relations between the two countries are already under significant strain.
