Clad in light blue jeans, a black Hugo Boss t-shirt, and Hermès sneakers, Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, better known as El Cangrejo, revealed a gold chain with a medallion engraved with the initials "FCR" and "RCR"—standing for Fidel Castro Ruz and Raúl Castro Ruz. He showcased it during an interview with a USA Today journalist in Havana this Monday, declaring, "If there's anything I believe in, it's these two men." This marks the 42-year-old grandson of Raúl Castro's first interview with a U.S. media outlet.
The interview took place in the same office once occupied by his grandfather at the Havana Convention Center, home to Cuba's parliament. Though Rodríguez Castro holds no official government position, he serves as a colonel in the Ministry of the Interior and has been the head of Raúl Castro's General Directorate of Personal Security since 2016. Each morning, he secures classified reports in a Salvatore Ferragamo leather briefcase, starting his day at 5 a.m.
A Different Kind of Revolutionary Heir
The medallion gesture encapsulates his stance: a staunch defender of the revolution's ideology, albeit leading a lifestyle vastly different from his predecessors. During the interview, El Cangrejo expressed willingness to negotiate the future of Cuba directly with Trump, stating, "I can negotiate with anyone designated by the U.S. If given the chance, of course with Trump." He also clarified his ideological boundaries: "Politics has never interested me. It has never been my calling. But if the revolution ever needs me, I will step up."
Facing Economic Turmoil
His public emergence comes amid significant pressure. Trump's Executive Order 14380, signed in January 2026, imposed secondary tariffs on those supplying oil to Cuba, slashing energy imports by 80% to 90%. The result: blackouts lasting up to 25 hours daily in over 55% of the country, with a projected GDP contraction of -6.5% for 2026. Cubans are scraping by on monthly wages ranging from $10 to $15.
Rodríguez Castro seems aware of this stark contrast. "It pains me that many cannot live as I do," he confessed. "I am burdened by the struggles people face and work every day to change that." However, a joint journalistic investigation revealed he took at least 23 private jet trips to Panama between 2024 and late 2025 for luxury shopping.
The Favored Grandson
Frank Mora, a professor of international relations at Florida International University, describes him unequivocally: "He is the favored grandson. Raúl Castro trusted his father, and he is the grandson he cherished most." His father was the late General Luis Alberto Rodríguez López-Calleja, who led GAESA—the military conglomerate controlling a substantial portion of Cuba's economy—until his death in 2022.
El Cangrejo's nickname stems from a physical trait: he was born with six fingers on his right hand and underwent three surgeries before the age of eight. As a teenager, he attended state meetings, including debates between Fidel and Raúl Castro, earning him a second nickname: Raulito.
Regarding political prisoners, Rodríguez Castro stated that Cuba is willing to release them "under appropriate conditions," though he added evasively, "The truth is not absolute."
Ricardo Herrero, executive director of the Cuba Study Group, offers a critical perspective on his rise: "This administration has helped create Raulito. He has garnered consensus among different factions of the Cuban state in favor of market opening. But that's not enough for those around Rubio, who seek political change, not just economic reform."
Understanding El Cangrejo's Role and Influence
What is El Cangrejo's position in the Cuban government?
Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, known as El Cangrejo, does not hold an official government position but is a colonel in the Ministry of the Interior and leads the General Directorate of Personal Security for Raúl Castro.
How has Trump's Executive Order affected Cuba's economy?
Trump's Executive Order 14380, signed in 2026, imposed secondary tariffs on oil suppliers to Cuba, resulting in an 80% to 90% reduction in energy imports, causing extensive blackouts and a projected GDP contraction of -6.5% for 2026.
What is the significance of El Cangrejo's gold medallion?
The gold medallion, engraved with the initials of Fidel and Raúl Castro, symbolizes El Cangrejo's allegiance to their revolutionary ideologies.