USA TODAY | Kim Hjelmgaard, Zachary Anderson
The USS Nimitz aircraft carrier and three escort warships entered the Caribbean Sea, coinciding with the Justice Department's announcement of murder charges against Cuba's 94-year-old former president Raúl Castro. This deployment and indictment reflect escalating pressure from the Trump administration, reminiscent of January's commando raid that captured Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela and Cilia Flores on narco-terrorism charges. The Nimitz, previously engaged in preplanned training and joint exercises with the Brazilian navy along the South American coast, arrived as the U.S. developed military operations options against Cuba. Charges against Castro and five others stem from the 1996 downing of two civilian planes, killing four, including three Americans. Cuba condemned the "despicable accusation" as a pretext for military action. Despite President Donald Trump's statements about not anticipating escalation and wanting to help Cuba "on a humanitarian basis," his administration has maintained an oil blockade and sanctions, with CIA Director John Ratcliffe recently meeting Cuban leaders amid fuel shortages and fears of U.S. military intervention.
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