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The Department of Justice plans to indict Ra\u00fal Castro, the 94-year-old former president of Cuba, as tensions escalate between the United States and the communist country.<\/span><\/p>\n The indictment is expected to charge Castro over a 1996 incident when Cuba shot down American-operated humanitarian planes, sources told<\/a> CBS News. Castro, the brother of the late Cuban communist revolutionary Fidel Castro, stepped down as the leader of Cuba in 2021, but he remains one of the most powerful figures in the country.<\/p>\n The Justice Department did not immediately respond to The Daily Wire\u2019s request for comment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In February 1996, two small planes operated by Miami-based group Brothers to the Rescue, were shot down by a Cuban fighter jet. The planes, which carried four people searching for Cubans attempting to flee the communist country, were reportedly shot down outside of Cuban airspace. Four people were killed.<\/p>\n On Thursday, the CIA also released images of Director John Ratcliffe during what appear to be face-to-face negotiations with leadership in Havana on Thursday.<\/p>\n Havana, Cuba pic.twitter.com\/7S7TtJPyf5<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 CIA (@CIA) May 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n The Trump administration is pressuring Cuba as the communist nation experiences energy shortages after oil shipments were cut off from Venezuela. Cuba\u2019s already bleak energy crisis worsened after the United States captured Venezuelan President Nicol\u00e1s Maduro in early January and took control of Venezuelan oil sales. Venezuela, which shipped oil to American adversaries around the globe, had previously been Cuba\u2019s main oil exporter.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Maduro was captured by U.S. forces in a midnight raid on his compound after he was hit with multiple charges in the United States, including narco-terrorism.<\/p>\n CIA Director John Ratcliffe told Ra\u00fal Castro earlier this month that President Trump is \u201cprepared to seriously engage on economic and security issues, but only if Cuba makes fundamental changes.\u201d President Trump argues that Cuba has developed close relationships with United States adversaries including China, Russia, and Iran. Trump also says that Cuba has provide refuge for American enemies, creating a national security risk.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Trump has publicly floated regime change and other aggressive actions toward Cuba. <\/span>In March<\/span><\/a>, he suggested the United States could pursue what he described as a \u201cfriendly takeover.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt may be a friendly takeover,\u201d Trump said. \u201cThey\u2019re really in, they\u2019re down to, uh, as they say, fumes. They have no energy. They have no money. They\u2019re in deep trouble on a humanitarian basis.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n