Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, known as "El Cangrejo" or "Raulito," the grandson of former leader Raúl Castro, gave his first public interview to The National this Friday to deliver a direct message to Washington: the Cuban regime seeks dialogue, not confrontation, but will not accept impositions or change its political system.
The interview, conducted in Havana with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, Carlos Méndez, takes place a day after the Communist Party approved the largest package of economic reforms in its history: 176 measures organized into 23 strategic axes, which include private banking, buying and selling shares of state enterprises, and the entry of private capital into the energy sector.
Raulito, who holds no official position in the government but is regarded as the main informal channel between the regime's leadership and the Trump administration, was direct in his message: "Cuba does not represent the slightest threat to the interests and national security of the United States. In that regard, we continue to offer that civilized relationship, that relationship of respect and on equal terms."
The individual, aged 41, is a lieutenant colonel in the Ministry of Interior and has been the head of the General Directorate of Personal Security for Raúl Castro since 2016. He was one of the interlocutors of CIA Director John Ratcliffe when he traveled to Havana on May 15, 2026 to convey a message from Trump that conditioned dialogue on "fundamental changes" in the island.
In the interview, Raulito extended a hand but made a clear distinction: "We still believe that the path of dialogue is what brings us closer, not that of confrontation. However, our government and the dignity of the Cuban people are not willing to submit, not only to the United States but to any country in the world."
Regarding the possibility of reforming the political system, he was categorical: "To achieve an economic model that is more open, that has 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."
The Deputy Minister Méndez, for his part, made a direct appeal to American businessmen: "We want you to know, to understand that Cuba is a country open to investment, that we have business opportunities in practically all sectors of the economy, ranging from mining, tourism, real estate, to the banking and financial sector." At the same time, he acknowledged that negotiations with Washington have not yielded results: "I would like to answer yes to that question, but the reality is no."
The backdrop is a humanitarian crisis of severe proportions. Since January 2026, the Trump administration has imposed over 240 sanctions against Cuba, including an oil blockade that has reduced fuel imports by 80% to 90%, resulting in power outages 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 medicines and medical supplies.
This pressure is compounded by the fact that the U.S. Department of Justice filed federal charges against Raúl Castro Sr. on May 20 for the downing of two aircraft from Brothers to the Rescue in 1996, which resulted in four deaths.
Political analysis points to a fracture within the U.S. administration. Professor William LeoGrande from American University indicates 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."
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