Former Cuban President Raul Castro indicted in US as Trump ups pressure on Cuba

The United States on Wednesday (May 20, 2026) criminally indicted Cuba’s former leader Raul Castro, fueling speculation that President Donald Trump will try to topple the communist state.

The Justice Department charged the influential former President over the deadly 1996 downing of two civilian planes manned by anti-Castro pilots.

The 94-year-old Castro, brother of Fidel Castro, the late iconic U.S. nemesis who led the 1959 communist revolution, was accused of murder, conspiracy to kill Americans, and destruction of aircraft.