Donald Trump’s government opened a criminal case this Wednesday (20) against former Cuban president Raúl Castro for his alleged responsibility in the shooting down of two planes belonging to the Hermanos al Rescate organization in 1996. The information was published by Reuters based on State Department sources and marks a new escalation in Washington’s pressure on Havana.
According to reports obtained by the agency, federal prosecutors in the United States presented the accusation this Wednesday (20), a date that coincides with tributes to the victims of the episode promoted by the North American Department of Justice.
In addition to Raúl Castro, American authorities are also evaluating measures against the current Cuban president, Miguel Díaz-Canel, and members of the regime’s leadership, according to information published by Bloomberg.
Energy crisis
The accusation comes amid worsening diplomatic tensions between the United States and Cuba. In recent months, the Trump administration has expanded economic and energy restrictions against the island, making it difficult to supply oil to the country.
The Cuban energy crisis has intensified since January, following American threats of sanctions against companies and countries that export fuel to Havana.
In practice, the restrictions significantly reduced the island’s energy supply, affecting public transport, hospitals, schools and basic services.
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The movement began to be compared by analysts to the strategy previously used against Venezuela before the American military operation that culminated in the capture of Nicolás Maduro this year.
Case dates back to a 1996 episode
The process under discussion in the United States would be based on the episode that occurred on February 24, 1996, when two planes belonging to the Hermanos al Rescate organization were shot down by the Cuban Air Force.
The aircraft belonged to a group created in Miami officially to assist Cubans who were trying to leave the island by sea towards the United States. Four people died in the episode.
Washington has maintained for decades that the planes were carrying out a humanitarian mission. Cuba alleged that the aircraft repeatedly violated its airspace and engaged in politically provocative activities. At the time, Raúl Castro held the position of Cuban Defense Minister.
Documents and historical reports show that Hermanos al Rescate had already been the target of warnings from the American government itself for illegal air raids over Cuban territory.
Organization had anti-Castro history
Hermanos al Rescate was founded in 1991 by José Basulto, a former member of anti-Castro groups and participant in the Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961.
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According to historical records cited in books and investigations of the time, Basulto also had links to organizations supported by the CIA during the Cold War.
After changes in American migration policy in the 1990s reduced the flow of Cuban rafters, the group began to intensify flights over Havana to launch leaflets against Fidel Castro’s government.
Before the downing of the planes, the State Department and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had issued warnings stating that Cuba could react militarily if the airspace was violated again.
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White House targets domestic political impact
The resumption of the case comes at a delicate time for Donald Trump. The Republican is facing wear and tear after the war against Iran and is trying to preserve support before the mid-term legislative elections, scheduled for November.
A possible tougher action against Cuba could strengthen Trump among the Cuban-American community in Florida, considered electorally strategic.
Estimates indicate that the United States has around 2.9 million Cuban-Americans, of which between 1.2 million and 1.5 million would be voters.
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The offensive also increases pressure on regimes historically aligned with the anti-American bloc in Latin America and reinforces the most aggressive foreign policy adopted by the White House since the beginning of Trump’s second term.
