Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, known as "El Cangrejo" or "Raulito," grandson of former president Raúl Castro, granted his first public interview to the outlet The National this Friday to send 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 one day after the Communist Party approved the largest economic reform package in its history: 176 measures organized into 23 strategic axes, which include private banking, buying and selling shares of state-owned companies, and the entry of private capital into the energy sector.
Raulito, who does not hold an official position in the government but is regarded as the primary informal channel between the regime's leadership and the Trump administration, was direct in his message: "Cuba does not pose the slightest 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."
The individual, aged 41, 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. He was one of the interlocutors for the 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" on the island.
In the interview, Raulito reached out a hand but drew a clear line: "We still believe that the path of dialogue is what brings us closer, not that of confrontation. However, let me be clear: 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, with greater participation from both 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, for his part, issued a direct appeal to U.S. 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 that no."
The backdrop is a humanitarian crisis of serious proportions. Since January 2026, the Trump administration has imposed more than 240 sanctions against Cuba, including an oil blockade that has reduced fuel imports by 80% to 90%, resulting in blackouts 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 medicines and medical supplies.
This pressure is compounded by the fact that the U.S. Department of Justice filed federal criminal charges against Raúl Castro Sr. on May 20 for the downing of two planes belonging to Brothers to the Rescue in 1996, which resulted in four deaths.
The political analysis points to a rift within the U.S. administration. Professor William LeoGrande from American University notes 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 cautiously: "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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