The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, assured that if Raúl Castro does not appear before US justice, he could be officially considered a fugitive.

“I'm not going to talk about how we're going to get him here, or whether we're trying to get him here,” Rubio told reporters in Florida. However, he made it clear that the US administration will maintain pressure on Havana.

“If Castro does not come of his own free will, he will become a fugitive from American justice,” the official said.

The statements occurred amid a new increase in tensions between Washington and Havana, marked by more severe economic sanctions and diplomatic pressures promoted by Donald Trump's administration.

Rubio also acknowledged that the United States has maintained contacts with Cuban officials, although he expressed little optimism about the possibility of reaching a diplomatic solution.

"The president's preference is always a negotiated and peaceful agreement. But, to be frank, the probability of that happening is not high," he said.

Cuba rejects accusations from Washington

After learning of the accusation, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel reacted through a message published in X, where he rejected the decision of the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Meanwhile, bilateral tension continues to grow. Since January, Washington has tightened sanctions against Cuba's strategic sectors, including energy, mining and defense, in addition to increasing restrictions related to fuel supplies to the island.

The measures come in the midst of a deep economic and social crisis in Cuba, marked by blackouts, fuel shortages and lack of food.

Trump increases pressure on Havana

President Donald Trump also raised the tone against the Cuban government in recent statements, where he assured that the United States can do “whatever it wants” with the island.

"It's a nation in decline. It's falling apart. They don't have oil, they don't have money," Trump declared before US media.

For his part, Rubio insisted that Washington's policy does not seek “national construction,” but rather responds to national security interests.

“Their system does not work,” said the Secretary of State. “It cannot be fixed with the current political system in place.”

The information was taken from public statements by the United States Department of Justice, as well as from statements by Marco Rubio and Donald Trump disseminated by American and international media.

US hardens stance against Cuba

The United States Department of Justice presented a formal accusation against former Cuban President Raúl Castro for his alleged participation in the downing of two small planes belonging to the Brothers to the Rescue organization in 1996, an event that left four dead, including three American citizens.

The accusation represents one of Washington's most aggressive moves against the Cuban political leadership in decades and rekindles a historic conflict between both countries that has lasted for almost 70 years.

According to US authorities, Castro – who at the time was Cuba's defense minister – faces charges of conspiracy to murder US citizens, destruction of aircraft and murder.