Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, popularly known as "El Cangrejo" or "Raulito," grandson of former president Raúl Castro, granted his first public interview to The National this Friday to advocate for the economic opening of the Cuban regime and to send signals of détente to Washington.
The moment is not coincidental. The interview takes place a day after the Communist Party approved the largest economic reform package in its history: 176 measures organized into 23 strategic axes that include private banking, the buying and selling of shares in state-owned companies, the removal of the 100-worker limit for small and medium-sized enterprises, the entry of private capital into the energy sector, and the involvement of emigrated Cubans in the economy.
Raulito, aged 41 years, does not hold an official position in the government, but he is a lieutenant colonel in the Ministry of the Interior and has been the head of the General Directorate of Personal Security for Raúl Castro since 2016.
It is considered the main informal channel between the regime's leadership and the Trump administration, and was one of the interlocutors of the CIA director, John Ratcliffe, when he visited Havana on May 15, 2026.
In the interview, conducted alongside the Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, Carlos Méndez, Raulito sent a direct message to Washington: "Cuba does not pose the slightest threat to the interests and national security of the United States. In that regard, we continue to offer a civilized relationship, a relationship based on respect and on equal terms."
Regarding the new economic model, Méndez was careful to outline the parameters of the change: "We are not privatizing the economy; what we are doing is granting greater participation to the private sector in the economy, in almost all sectors."
The ruler Miguel Díaz-Canel had acknowledged that the plan is inspired by the models of China and Vietnam, meaning market reforms without altering the single-party system.
The Crab was explicit on that point: "Achieving an economic model that is more open, with greater participation from national and foreign private capital... and for that, we do not have nor are we willing to transform the Cuban political system."
Vice Minister Méndez also issued a direct appeal to American entrepreneurs: "Cuba is a country open to investment, where we have business opportunities in virtually every sector of the economy, ranging from mining, tourism, real estate, to banking and finance."
He extended the invitation to the Cuban community abroad.
However, Raulito himself admitted that negotiations with Washington have not produced concrete results: "I would like to answer yes to that question, but the reality is no."
The backdrop is grim. Since January 2026, the Trump administration's sanctions have intensified with an oil blockade that prevents any country from supplying fuel to Cuba, resulting in blackouts exceeding 20 hours a day.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, warned this month that children are dying due to a lack of medications and medical supplies.
Additionally, the U.S. Department of Justice declassified, on May 20, a federal indictment against Raúl Castro Sr. for the downing of two planes belonging to Hermanos al Rescate in 1996, resulting in four fatalities, adding a layer of personal tension to the context in which his grandson speaks publicly for the first time.
Professor William LeoGrande from American University points out that it is Secretary of State Marco Rubio who is leading the campaign of maximum pressure, while Trump maintains more transactional instincts.
The vice president JD Vance responded to the Cuban reforms with caution: "Let's see what they do. If they make smart decisions, we will have a much better relationship with that island."
Transcription of the words of Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro
Welcome, it's a pleasure to have you here. We have seen each other in recent days, and I would like to reiterate an idea and vision that we have had since the early days of the Revolution.
Since that moment, the historic leaders of the Revolution have always conveyed to the world and various U.S. governments that Cuba and its revolutionary government have always been willing to maintain a cordial relationship, a relationship of respect, a civilized relationship; and, why not, it should evolve into a normal and natural relationship.
Cuba does not pose the slightest threat to the interests or national security of the United States. In this regard, we continue to offer that civilized relationship, that relationship based on respect and equality, where we can discuss all matters of interest to both parties and reach agreements on points or issues where we share a similar perspective, while respecting our differences.
It is difficult, it is truly difficult, to hold any kind of conversation, discussion, negotiation, or dialogue in a very hostile environment marked by coercive measures, threats, and demands for conditioning and imposition.
Because that's how it is: Cuba, even in recent times, as our president and other leaders and officials of the Cuban government have made clear, continues to believe that the path of dialogue is the one that brings us closer, not that of confrontation.
Our government and the dignity of the Cuban people are unwilling to submit, not only to the United States but to any country in the world. This is also consistent with statements made by various leaders throughout the revolutionary process, and has been reaffirmed recently by our president.
It was previously stated or expressed explicitly by Army General Raúl Castro when he indicated that Cuba must not repeat the mistakes of the past and, in economic matters, should not rely on either a single product or a single country.
Our country must pursue economic development in which we inevitably need to diversify our economy; diversify the way we conduct business, our trading partners, and the manner in which we project investments.
Thus, we are ready to walk in a sovereign manner, and even, as suggested by our people, to seek a very Cuban economic model, learning from international experiences.
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