The Cuban government has accused Donald Trump's administration of using the 1996 shootdown of Brothers to the Rescue aircraft as a pretext to justify military intervention on the island. This accusation was made during a televised Round Table discussion on the Cuban News Channel.
The claims emerged shortly after the Department of Justice declassified an indictment against Raúl Castro and five Cuban military officers for their involvement in the incident, which resulted in the deaths of four Cuban-Americans. The indictment, approved by a federal grand jury in Miami on April 23, 2026, was made public on May 20.
Miguel Ángel Moreno Carpio, an official from the Directorate of International Law at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, drew a historical parallel during the Round Table discussion, stating, "What they attempted on February 24, 1996, and in previous flights over Cuba was to provoke an incident leading to military escalation against our country. President Clinton later acknowledged that he was presented with two options: a military attack on Cuba or signing the Helms-Burton Act. The same forces from Florida are trying to provoke another incident today—a collective suffocation plan leading to public actions and a supposed humanitarian situation justifying military intervention."
Moreno Carpio emphasized that reviving the case after 30 years indicates a significant escalation effort by the United States to achieve what it has not accomplished: direct intervention in Cuban affairs.
The Cuban regime also criticized the choice of location for the announcement, noting it was made at the Freedom Tower in Miami, not in Washington, where the Department of Justice is based, interpreting it as a political act aimed at the Cuban exile community.
According to a report by Politico on May 19, the Pentagon was considering military options against Cuba, ranging from aerial strikes to a ground invasion. However, Trump stated on May 21, "No. There won't be an escalation. I don't think it's necessary."
Russia joined the international voices condemning the accusation, alleging Washington was preparing a military intervention against Cuba.
During the Round Table, Colonel Salustiano Ruiz del Real documented at least 25 violations of Cuban airspace by Brothers to the Rescue from 1994 to 1996, using military Cessna 337 aircraft.
Armando Daniel López, President of the Civil Aeronautics Institute, recalled that on February 24, 1996, Cuba had declared a restricted military exercise zone (NOTAM) communicated to all U.S. aviation authorities. "At 3:17 PM that day, aircraft N2506 reported being 11 miles from Havana, admiring its beauty," López noted.
On May 22, around 250,000 Cubans gathered at the José Martí Anti-Imperialist Tribune in Havana, led by Miguel Díaz-Canel, to denounce the indictment. From that Saturday until June 3—Raúl Castro's 95th birthday—the regime announced open forums across the country.
Republican hero Gerardo Hernández Nordelo posed a rhetorical question summarizing the official stance: "When will they prosecute, and in which tower of freedom will they announce the trial against President Trump for ordering the assassination of 200 people and the destruction of 57 vessels in international Caribbean and Pacific waters without a shred of evidence or shame?"
Key Questions on the 1996 Incident and U.S.-Cuba Relations
What was the 1996 incident involving Brothers to the Rescue?
In 1996, Cuban military forces shot down two aircraft belonging to Brothers to the Rescue, a group assisting Cuban migrants at sea. The incident resulted in the deaths of four Cuban-Americans, escalating tensions between the U.S. and Cuba.
Why did the Trump administration revive the case?
The Trump administration's revival of the case is seen by the Cuban government as a move to justify potential military intervention, amidst ongoing political and diplomatic tensions between the two nations.
What international reactions followed the U.S. actions?
Russia and other international entities criticized the U.S. for preparing what they perceive as a military intervention against Cuba, highlighting the geopolitical implications of such actions.