In a discreet meeting on Wednesday, close aides to Secretary of State Marco Rubio engaged with Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, the influential grandson of Raúl Castro, on the sidelines of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) summit.
According to multiple sources familiar with the discussions, as reported by the Miami Herald, the meeting unfolded at a hotel near the 50th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM.
Rodríguez Castro, known as "El Cangrejo" in Cuba, reportedly traveled to Saint Kitts with a protocol officer and departed from the island the same day.
While it remains uncertain if Rubio himself was present during this exchange, his attendance at the summit and his team's engagement with Castro's grandson highlight the Trump administration's perception of him as a pivotal interlocutor in the ongoing dialogue with Havana.
Despite not holding any formal position within the government or the Communist Party, Rodríguez Castro is seen as Raúl Castro's closest advisor and confidant. He is also linked to overseeing the military conglomerate GAESA, which controls significant sectors of the Cuban economy.
Sources informed the Herald that the core of the discussions focused on the potential for a gradual easing of U.S. sanctions in exchange for “month-by-month” economic reforms by the Cuban leadership.
However, other insiders emphasized that no agreement has been finalized yet.
As per the report, a Caribbean diplomat mentioned that in private talks with regional leaders, Rubio suggested that negotiations with the Cuban government are "very advanced," though he clarified that Washington does not intend to prolong the regime's longevity.
During the summit, Guyana's President Irfaan Ali confirmed that there was dialogue regarding CARICOM's potential involvement in a regional framework to support a possible transition in Cuba. Meanwhile, Jamaica's Prime Minister Andrew Holness advocated for constructive dialogue between Washington and Havana to foster stability and reform.
When questioned by the press, Rubio refrained from directly confirming the contacts with Rodríguez Castro. “I won’t comment on any conversations we have had,” he stated, though he noted that the U.S. is open to hearing proposals for change from any Cuban official.
The Secretary of State emphasized that Cuba is facing a "severe and catastrophic" economic crisis and reiterated that Washington would back "dramatic reforms" that pave the way for economic and eventually political freedom. He also highlighted the potential role of the Cuban private sector in this process.
This meeting occurred against a particularly sensitive backdrop, as news broke on the same day about a shooting incident between a Florida vessel and a Cuban coast guard ship, resulting in four fatalities.
Rubio described the incident as "unusual" and announced that the U.S. would conduct its own investigation.
The episode coincided with the 30th anniversary of the 1996 shootdown of Brothers to the Rescue planes, an event that previously halted bilateral talks and led to a tightening of the embargo.
Analysts caution that the recent incident might be leveraged in both Havana and Miami to attempt to derail the ongoing dialogue. Nonetheless, the meeting in Saint Kitts confirms that, despite public tensions, communication channels between Washington and the Cuban power circle remain operational.
Key Aspects of U.S.-Cuba Diplomatic Interactions
What was the purpose of the meeting between Rubio's team and Rodríguez Castro?
The meeting aimed to discuss the potential easing of U.S. sanctions in exchange for gradual economic reforms by the Cuban leadership.
Who is Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro?
Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, known as "El Cangrejo," is the grandson of Raúl Castro and a significant figure within the Cuban power structure, closely advising his grandfather.
What incident coincided with the meeting in Saint Kitts?
On the same day as the meeting, a shooting incident occurred between a Florida vessel and a Cuban coast guard ship, resulting in four deaths.