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The newspaper Miami Herald confirmed this Wednesday that the United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, is holding talks with Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, grandson of former Cuban leader Raúl Castro, amid increasing pressure from Washington on Havana to force political and economic changes on the island.
Rodríguez Castro, a 41-year-old colonel known as "El Cangrejo," was in charge of personal security for his grandfather when he was formally in office as president and continues to be one of his most trusted men.
Additionally, according to the U.S. media, he oversees the interests of the Castro family within GAESA, the military conglomerate that controls large sectors of the Cuban economy and a significant portion of the country's foreign currency sources.
The conversations were initially reported by Axios and confirmed to the Miami Herald by a source with knowledge of the matter.
A senior official from the Trump administration stated to that outlet that it would not formally be referred to as "negotiations," but rather as "discussions about the future."
President Donald Trump himself stated on Sunday that his administration is maintaining contacts with Cuba, in a context marked by the reduction of oil supplies coming from Venezuela and Mexico, and by the pressure strategy that Washington is promoting following Nicolás Maduro's departure from power in Caracas.
According to the report, circles within the U.S. administration have considered whether there is a figure in Cuba with real capacity for dialogue—similar to the role played by Delcy Rodríguez in the Venezuelan transition—who could facilitate a potential understanding.
Although Miguel Díaz-Canel holds the formal presidency, various analysts and sources cited by the Herald indicate that real power remains concentrated in the circle of Raúl Castro.
Rodríguez Castro does not hold a visible position in the Government or in the Communist Party, but his proximity to the former leader and his influence within GAESA make him a key figure in the economic-military framework.
Documents cited by the newspaper indicate that the conglomerate reported current assets of approximately 18 billion dollars in March 2024, distributed across unspecified accounts.
The Miami Herald also notes that Raúl Castro's grandson has frequently traveled to Panama, where one of the main companies linked to GAESA is registered, and that he has been associated with opaque business operations abroad.
One of the sources consulted by Axios described the talks with Rubio as “surprisingly cordial” and focused on the future, rather than on ideological disputes from the past. From Washington, Rubio has reiterated that any easing of U.S. pressure will depend on concrete economic reforms and clear signs of political openness from Havana.
So far, the Cuban regime has not officially confirmed these contacts. The true extent of Rodríguez Castro's influence and his ability to sway decisions on behalf of the power in Cuba remain key questions at a time of increasing economic and political tension for the island.
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