[U.S. Department of Justice Accuses Former Cuban Leader Raúl Castro, Trump Administration Increases Pressure on Cuba] BlockBeats News, May 21 – The U.S. Department of Justice recently released an indictment formally accusing former Cuban leader Raúl Modesto Castro Ruz of crimes related to the 1996 incident in which Cuban fighter jets shot down two humanitarian aid planes. The incident resulted in the deaths of four U.S. nationals, including three American citizens. Raúl Castro, the brother of former Cuban leader Fidel Castro, served as the President of the Cuban Council of State from 2008 to 2018. This judicial action is the latest move in the Trump administration's maximum pressure campaign against the Cuban regime. The Trump administration had previously imposed sanctions on Cuba's military and intelligence sectors and consistently called for the Cuban leadership to end its repression of the Cuban people and reach an agreement with the United States. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel responded on social media, stating that the U.S. government's accusations only expose the arrogance and frustration of the empire's representatives when faced with the unyielding resolve of the Cuban revolution and the unity and moral strength of its leadership. He denounced the accusations as baseless political manipulation. It is worth noting that former President Biden, before leaving office, had rescinded Cuba's designation as a 'state sponsor of terrorism' and revoked the Cuba policy memorandum from Trump's first term. However, on his inauguration day in January 2025, Trump reinstated Cuba's 'state sponsor of terrorism' designation and subsequently issued a stricter National Security Presidential Memorandum. Recently, the Trump administration also announced sanctions against Cuban military-controlled enterprises such as GAESA, accusing them of enriching corrupt elites rather than benefiting the people. A White House statement further hinted at the possibility of military action against the Cuban regime, stating that President Trump continues to demonstrate his resolve to confront foreign national security threats. Previous military actions have successfully captured Venezuelan dictator Maduro and dismantled Iran's nuclear weapons capabilities. [Original Link]