Nine Takeaways from Cuba's Raúl Castro Being Indicted for Murder
The US’ decision to charge 94-year-old former Cuban president Raúl Castro with murder on 20 May, 2026, was no coincidence. On Cuban Independence Day, Castro was indicted for allegedly planning the 1996 shootdown of two civilian aircraft.
He is the most senior Cuban regime figure ever criminally charged by the United States, at a time when the island is in freefall. Cuba is currently enduring rolling blackouts of up to 22 hours, its subsidised oil lifeline severed by the US capture of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro in January, and a US president who has repeatedly said he may invade the country.
Castro’s indictment is just another turn of the screw. Below are nine takeaways on what this indictment means and what happens next.
Is this actually a murder case?
It’s more than murder.
