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The U.S. senator Rick Scott, a Republican from Florida, stated that the former Cuban leader Raúl Castro should be brought to the United States to face charges for alleged crimes, amid the tightening of President Donald Trump's foreign policy towards Havana.
In an interview granted to EFE, Scott stated that he hopes the former Cuban leader will be formally charged. "I want Raúl Castro to be charged for his crimes, for killing Americans. I believe he should be brought to the United States to stand trial," declared the senator.
Scott is one of the Republican lawmakers who has pressured Washington to open a criminal investigation against Castro for the shootdown in 1996 of two planes from the organization Brothers to the Rescue, an incident in which three U.S. citizens and one permanent resident died.
The attack occurred on February 24, 1996, when MiG aircraft from the Cuban Air Force shot down civilian planes involved in rescue missions for rafters in the Florida Straits. For years, the victims' families and exile organizations have demanded that Castro be held accountable for this incident.
Although Raúl Castro, 94 years old, stepped down as president of Cuba in 2018 and left his position as first secretary of the Communist Party in 2021, he continues to be officially referred to by the Cuban government as the "leader of the Revolution," which gives any international accusations a strong political impact on the island.
"Let's help the Cuban people move forward," Scott emphasized when referring to the country's future.
Increased pressure from Washington on Cuba
The senator's statements come amid increased political pressure from the United States on Havana, especially following the U.S. operation in Venezuela on January 3, which resulted in the capture of then-President Nicolás Maduro.
From that moment on, U.S. foreign policy attention in the Caribbean has once again focused on Cuba.
In addition to the so-called "fuel blockade" enacted by Washington at the beginning of 2026, President Trump has intensified the rhetoric in his recent statements, claiming that "Cuba will fall soon" and that the political system of the island is in its final moments.
In that same vein, Scott believes that "the time of the Cuban regime is running out."
When asked if there is a parallel between the cases of Venezuela and Cuba, the Republican senator stated that they are distinct contexts, although both represent an opportunity to promote political change in the region.
"I hope that the Cuban leaders understand that the only opportunity for the future is a transition to democracy," he stated.
Scott also stated that President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have a plan to promote democracy in Latin America.
"Thank God, under the strong leadership of Trump and Rubio there is a pathway of hope for Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua, and all of Latin America," expressed the senator, although he acknowledged that it is a complex process that could take time.
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