Washington, D.C. – May 21, 2026 – The U.S. Department of Justice has unsealed a superseding indictment charging 94-year-old former Cuban leader Raúl Castro and five co-defendants with conspiracy to kill U.S. nationals, destruction of aircraft, and multiple counts of murder. The charges stem from the 1996 shoot-down of two unarmed civilian planes operated by the Miami-based exile group Brothers to the Rescue.
The February 24, 1996, incident took place over international waters north of Cuba, where Cuban MiG fighters downed the planes, killing four men: U.S. citizens Carlos Costa, Armando Alejandre Jr., and Mario de la Peña, along with Pablo Morales. U.S. authorities have consistently maintained that the aircraft posed no threat and were conducting humanitarian search-and-rescue operations for Cuban rafters.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the charges in Miami at a memorial for the victims, declaring it a historic step in holding senior Cuban regime figures accountable. FBI Director Kash Patel highlighted the long pursuit of justice for the victims’ families.
The move comes as Cuba grapples with a severe economic crisis marked by fuel shortages and widespread power blackouts. Cuban officials have rejected the indictment as a politically motivated “circus” and a pretext for increased U.S. pressure. President Miguel Díaz-Canel described it as a baseless maneuver.
China’s Strong Rebuff: “Stop Brandishing the Judicial Stick”
China has issued a firm diplomatic rebuke, backing Havana and urging the U.S. to halt what it calls “threats, coercion, and judicial abuse” against Cuba. Beijing reiterated its opposition to unilateral sanctions and pledged steadfast support for Cuba’s sovereignty. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated that China “firmly supports Cuba in safeguarding its sovereignty and national dignity and opposing external interference.”
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This response underscores China’s assertive diplomacy in the Western Hemisphere and intensifying U.S.-China competition for influence in Latin America. Analysts see the indictment as part of the Trump administration’s broader pressure campaign on the Cuban regime, while Beijing positions itself as a key partner for Havana.
For more on Beijing’s growing geopolitical maneuvers, see China Delays Pentagon Official’s Beijing Visit Amid Standoff Over $14 Billion Taiwan Arms Package on Briefly USA.
The case was revived following the arrest in Florida of one of the indicted Cuban pilots. Though Raúl Castro, who stepped down in 2018 but remains influential, is unlikely to stand trial in the U.S., the symbolic charges deepen long-standing bilateral tensions.
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Cuban-American communities in South Florida have welcomed the development as overdue accountability. The White House has downplayed any immediate military ramifications, but the episode risks further escalation in the region.
This story is developing as more international reactions emerge.
