U.S. escalates accusations against Cuba, targeting Raúl Castro and CDRs

U.S. officials have renewed pressure on Cuba by pursuing legal and diplomatic actions. The Department of Justice announced an indictment of former President Raúl Castro for alleged involvement in the 1996 shoot‑down of two Brothers to the Rescue aircraft, a case previously dismissed. In May, CIA Director John Ratcliffe visited Havana, and in June Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth toured the Guantánamo Naval Base, a location under Cuban sovereignty. The Trump administration added Cuba’s Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDRs) to its list of banned organizations and individuals, reversing a decision by the prior Biden administration that had removed Cuba from the U.S. state‑sponsors‑of‑terrorism list. Analysts argue these moves aim to create pretexts for further U.S. action against Cuba, citing historical claims such as alleged Cuban support for Colombia’s FARC and Spain’s ETA, which have been contested by the respective governments. The discussion also references U.S. congressmen of Cuban descent who advocate for a tighter embargo, suggesting a domestic political dimension to the heightened tensions.