Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum asserted on Tuesday that the arrest warrant issued in Florida against Raúl Castro is fueled by political motives tied to the upcoming November elections in the United States. This perspective aligns with the reasoning employed by Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel in dismissing the judicial action.
"It's political, it's political, and it also relates to the November election — that's my point of view — and the votes they want to gain from one side and the other," the president stated during her morning press conference on October 20. She was responding to questions regarding the new warrant against the former Cuban leader.
Her remarks came just a day after Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier publicly announced the arrest warrant for Castro, citing his alleged involvement in the downing of two Brothers to the Rescue civilian planes in 1996.
Florida Charges Against Castro
The arrest warrant was signed on October 16 by Judge Ariana Fajardo Orshan, head of Florida's Eleventh Judicial Circuit. It mandates the detention of the 95-year-old former Cuban leader without bail.
Castro faces a state charge of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, linked to the February 24, 1996, incident when Cuban Air Force MiG fighters shot down two Brothers to the Rescue aircraft over international waters in the Florida Straits.
The attack resulted in the deaths of Carlos Costa, Mario de la Peña, Armando Alejandre Jr., and Pablo Morales, members of the organization focused on locating and assisting Cuban rafters.
Judicial Proceedings and Evidence
The investigation indicates that Castro, who was serving as the Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces at the time, was part of the command chain that authorized the attack.
The court documents include details about Cuban intelligence agents who infiltrated Brothers to the Rescue and a June 1996 recording in which Castro discusses the orders related to the aircraft.
This state warrant represents an independent judicial path separate from the federal charge initiated in May 2026, which also holds the former leader and other past Cuban military officials accountable for the shootdown.
Sheinbaum and Díaz-Canel's Shared View
Back in May, after the U.S. Department of Justice disclosed the federal accusation, Sheinbaum questioned the timing of Washington's revival of a case from three decades ago.
"What sense does it make to accuse someone now for something that happened 30 years ago?" she asked during another morning briefing.
Sheinbaum's comments mirror those from Havana shortly after the new arrest order emerged.
On Monday, Díaz-Canel publicly defended Raúl Castro, denouncing the decision as "reprehensible."
In a Facebook post, the Cuban leader described the measure as a "pathetic Miami circus with an electoral backdrop," arguing that it lacked both legal and practical justification.
His reaction was echoed by other Havana officials, including Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla and Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío, who also criticized the actions of U.S. authorities.
Questions on Raúl Castro's Arrest Warrant
What are the charges against Raúl Castro in Florida?
Raúl Castro is charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder related to the 1996 downing of two Brothers to the Rescue planes.
Why does Claudia Sheinbaum believe the arrest warrant is politically motivated?
Claudia Sheinbaum believes the arrest warrant is politically motivated due to its timing with the upcoming November elections in the U.S., suggesting it is aimed at gaining votes.
How did Miguel Díaz-Canel react to the arrest warrant?
Miguel Díaz-Canel condemned the arrest warrant, calling it a "pathetic Miami circus with an electoral backdrop" and lacking legal rationale.