Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, known as "El Cangrejo," appeared this Friday behind Miguel Díaz-Canel at the José Martí Anti-Imperialist Tribune event, in front of the United States Embassy in Havana, called to support his grandfather Raúl Castro following the criminal charges filed by the U.S. Department of Justice.
His presence was captured in photographs posted on social media by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla and by the Cuban Foreign Ministry, where he is seen in the background but close to the regime's leadership, wearing a black t-shirt.
What caught attention is that the honoree himself was not present. Raúl Castro, who will turn 95 years old on June 3, did not attend the event organized in his name, which sparked a wave of mockery on social media.
“Is the honoree not attending their event?”, “And where is the celebrant? Is there fear?”, or “And Raúl in the cave!”, wrote internet users.
Díaz-Canel appeared dressed in combat uniform and posted on social media: "For Cuba and for Raúl, we are at the Anti-Imperialist Tribune. Raúl is Raúl."
Rodríguez Parrilla stated that the event was "a clear and firm demonstration of unrestricted support for the Cuban Revolution and for Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, in light of the recent infamous and fraudulent accusation made by the U.S. government against him."
The presence of "El Cangrejo" at the event takes on a special significance due to his profile.
The grandson of Raúl Castro, 41 years old, holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Ministry of the Interior (MININT) and has led the General Directorate of Personal Security since 2016, the unit responsible for the direct protection of the former leader.
But his role goes beyond that of a bodyguard. On May 15, the CIA director, John Ratcliffe, traveled to Havana and met with him, along with the Minister of the Interior and other high-ranking Cuban officials, in what was described as the first official high-level U.S. visit since the Obama era.
This dual role —as the accused's escort and negotiator with Washington— makes their presence at the event significant.
The Cangrejo was not included in the U.S. sanctions package from May 8, which reinforces the interpretation that Washington views it as a valid negotiation channel.
The event occurs days after the Department of Justice declassified the federal charges against Raúl Castro for the downing of two planes from Brothers to the Rescue on February 24, 1996, which resulted in the deaths of four Cuban Americans. The charges include conspiracy to commit murder of U.S. citizens and four counts of homicide.
The day before the event, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that there has been progress in negotiations with Cuba, including Cuba's acceptance of an offer of 100 million dollars in humanitarian aid linked to political reforms, but he insisted that he does not believe real changes can occur as long as "these people are in charge," labeling Cuba as a "failed state."
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