A U.S. aircraft carrier entered the Caribbean Sea following allegations against Raúl Castro

The U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, accompanied by warships, entered the Caribbean Sea amid escalating tensions between the United States and Cuba.

This was reported by the U.S. Southern Command.

The decision coincided with the U.S. Department of Justice’s announcement of charges against 94-year-old former Cuban leader Raúl Castro and five others in a case involving a conspiracy to murder four people, including three U.S. citizens.

The case involves a 1996 incident in which the Cuban Air Force shot down two civilian aircraft belonging to the organization Brothers to the Rescue, founded by Cuban emigrants to search for people fleeing the island by sea.

U.S. President Donald Trump called the indictment a “very important moment,” but assured that there would be no military escalation.

Welcome to the Caribbean, Nimitz Carrier Strike Group!

The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), the embarked Carrier Air Wing 17 (CVW-17), USS Gridley (DDG 101), and USNS Patuxent (T-AO 201) are the epitome of readiness and presence, unmatched reach and lethality, and strategic… pic.twitter.com/83mfzSIKzd

— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) May 20, 2026

“There will be no escalation. I don’t think there’s a need for it,” Trump said.

Reuters notes that the criminal prosecution of Raúl Castro marked a significant escalation of Washington’s pressure on the Cuban government. Since early 2026, the U.S. has also imposed an oil embargo on Cuba, deepening the economic crisis on the island.