US indicts former Cuban President Raul Castro

The US has indicted former Cuban President Raul Castro, the US Department of Justice has announced.

The indictment stems from the downing of two civilian US planes by Cuban Air Force fighter jets, with four members of a Miami-based anti-Castro humanitarian group known as Brothers to the Rescue being killed. 

Cuba President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez denounced the allegations, calling it a "political maneuver, devoid of any legal foundation."

Diaz-Canel also blamed the US of lying and distorting the events surrounding the 1996 downing of the planes.

Raul Castro, the brother of long-year Cuba President Fidel Castro, oversaw a historic 2015 rapprochement with the US under Barack Obama's presidency. US President Donald Trump later reversed the move in 2017 during his first term in office. 

The indictment was filed in a federal court in Miami, with the charges being one count of conspiracy to kill US nationals, four counts of murder, and two counts of destruction of aircraft, according to court records. 

US President Donald Trump labeled the indictment a "very big moment," adding that Washington is "freeing up Cuba."
 
While saying he does not know what comes next for Cuba, Trump also ruled out an "escalation" in the country.

Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche said the indictment is proof that the US "does not and will not forget its citizens."

"Nations and countries cannot be permitted to target Americans and not face accountability."

Rubio tells Cubans: A 'new path' is on offer for them 

Earlier, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed Cubans and told them a "new path" is on offer for them.

In a video in Spanish, Rubio accused Cuba's communist party leadership of theft, corruption and oppression.

"A new Cuba where you have a real opportunity to choose who governs your country and vote to replace them if they are not doing a good job," Rubio — whose parents immigrated to the US from Cuba — said.

Rubio continued acknowledging the "unimaginable hardships" Cubans are going through, which include having no electricity for the majority of the day due to the lack of oil. 

According to the US secretary of state, Cuban military-backed conglomerate Gaesa is guilty of making the country's elites rich while ordinary citizens suffer, also calling it a "state within a state."

"And the only role played by the so-called 'government' is to demand that you continue making 'sacrifices' and repressing anyone who dares to complain."

Cuba Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez reacted to Rubio's statement calling it "superficial and misinformed."

Cuba's grid falters again, triggering blackouts and unrest

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Trump admin fuel blockade sparks backlash from Cuban leaders

The Trump administration has implemented a blockade on fuel coming into Cuba, sparking an energy crisis on the island. The US has also had a decadeslong trade embargo with Cuba.  

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel has urged the Trump administration to lift its de facto oil blockade on the island and condemned US sanctions as "immoral, illegal, and criminal."

Tensions between the US and Cuba have also been rising most recently due to the country's reported deal to buy more than 300 drones from Russia and Iran.

Edited by: Wesley Dockery