Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, popularly known as "El Cangrejo" or "Raulito," grandson of the former leader Raúl Castro, granted his first public interview to the media The National this Friday to advocate for the economic opening of the Cuban regime and to send signals of détente to Washington.
The timing 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, buying and selling shares of state-owned companies, lifting the limit of 100 workers for small and medium-sized enterprises (mipymes), allowing private capital in the energy sector, and enabling participation of emigrated Cubans in the economy.
Raulito, 41 years old, does not hold an official position in the government, but is a 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 for CIA Director John Ratcliffe when he traveled to Havana on May 15, 2026.
In the interview, conducted alongside the Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, Carlos Méndez, Raulito delivered a direct message to Washington: "Cuba poses no minimal threat to the interests and national security of the United States. In that sense, we continue to offer that civilized relationship, that relationship of respect and on equal terms."
Regarding the new economic model, Méndez was careful to outline the boundaries of the change: "We are not privatizing the economy; what we are doing is giving greater participation to the private sector in the economy, in practically all sectors."
The ruler Miguel Díaz-Canel had acknowledged that the plan is inspired by the models of China and Vietnam, meaning market reform without affecting the one-party system.
And he said: "Our country must pursue an economic development in which we must, inevitably, diversify our economy; diversify the way we do business, our commercial partners, and the way we manage investments."
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 neither have nor are willing to transform the Cuban political system."
Deputy Minister Méndez also made a direct appeal to American businessmen: “Cuba is a country open to investment, where we have business opportunities in virtually all sectors 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 the 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 tightened with an oil embargo that prevents any country from supplying fuel to Cuba, resulting in outages that exceed 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 medicine 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 from Hermanos al Rescate in 1996, which resulted 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 maximum pressure campaign, 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."
Transcript of the words of Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro
It's a pleasure to have you here. We have seen each other in recent days, and I could reiterate an idea and a vision that we have had since the early days of the Revolution.
Since that moment, the historical leaders of the Revolution always projected, and made it known to the world and various governments of the United States, that Cuba and its revolutionary government have always been willing to maintain a cordial relationship, a relationship of respect, a civilized relationship; that, why not, it should evolve into a normal and natural relationship.
Cuba poses no minimal threat to the interests or national security of the United States. In this regard, we continue to offer that civilized relationship, a relationship based on respect and equality, where we can discuss all matters of mutual interest and reach agreements on points or issues where we share a similar perspective, while respecting our differences.
It is difficult, truly difficult, to hold any kind of conversation, discussion, negotiation, or dialogue in a very hostile environment characterized by coercive measures, threats, and attempts at conditioning and imposition.
Because that is true: 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 what 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 consistent with the statements made by various leaders throughout the revolutionary process, and has been recently reaffirmed by our president.
In previous instances, it was explicitly stated by Army General Raúl Castro when he pointed out that Cuba must not repeat the mistakes of the past and, in economic matters, should not depend on either a single product or a single country.
Our country must pursue economic development in which we inevitably have to diversify our economy; diversify the way we conduct business, our trade partners, and how we project investments.
Thus, we are ready to walk in a sovereign manner and, as has been suggested by our people, to seek a very Cuban economic model, learning from international experiences.
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