US indicts Raúl Castro on Cuba's Independence Day

The US indicted former Cuban president Raúl Castro on May 20, Cuba's Independence Day, at Miami's Freedom Tower, charging him with involvement in the 1996 downing of two civilian planes by Cuban military jets. The indictment raises questions about who truly holds power in Cuba. Castro, 95, stepped back in 2019 and was replaced by Miguel Díaz-Canel, the first non-Castro leader since 1959. However, experts like Mark Manger of the University of Toronto's Munk School of Global Affairs argue Díaz-Canel lacks a power base and is controlled by other forces. The US fuel blockade against Cuba has been in effect since January. Observers point to Castro's grandson, known as Raúlito, as a key figure, with Marco Rubio having spoken directly to him. The military, including Raúlito, benefits from tourism revenues via the conglomerate Gaesa. The indictment is a provocative move for Cuban-Americans but offers no clear path forward for Cuba's future.