The US Department of Justice has formally filed charges against former Cuban leader Raúl Castro, threatening him with the death penalty. This was announced by US officials on May 20, 2026. According to Reuters and Fox News, the charges stem from the February 24, 1996, incident in which Cuban fighter jets shot down two civilian aircraft belonging to the Brothers to the Rescue organization in international airspace. Four people were killed. At the time of the incident, Raúl Castro served as Cuba's Minister of Defense.

In response, Cuba's current president, Miguel Díaz-Canel, issued a harsh statement on the social media platform X. He called the accusations "a political act with no legal basis."

"Its purpose is simply to fill the dossier they are fabricating to justify their reckless military aggression against Cuba," — Diaz-Canel wrote.

Experts and Cuban leaders see this move as part of a US strategy to effect a regime change on the island, following the "Venezuelan scenario." Earlier, on May 19, Politico reported that the Trump administration was considering a military invasion of Cuba due to the failure of economic sanctions and the fuel blockade, and that the US Southern Command had already begun operational planning. Last week, CIA Director John Ratcliffe visited Havana, and on May 14, The New York Times reported that senior US officials were considering the possibility of capturing Raúl Castro, similar to the kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.