Raul Guillermo Rodriguez Castro has received explicit blessing from Cuba’s top leadership to act as an interlocutor in negotiations with the United States regarding the country’s future. Although he holds no formal government position, a social media post from an official with the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba confirmed his leading role in high-stakes communications with Washington, noting he is the grandson of the former leader indicted by the United States for allegedly ordering civilian U.S. planes shot down in 1996.
This confirmation follows exclusive interviews Rodriguez Castro gave to USA TODAY in Havana, where he detailed his involvement in secret, back-channel discussions with the White House. His decision to speak with USA TODAY marked the first time a member of the Castro family has consented to a profile in 70 years. Regarding his potential as a negotiator, he stated, “I can negotiate with anyone designated by the U.S. If given the opportunity, claro que con Trump.” He further added that if the revolution requires him to step up, he would do so.
Elier Ramirez Canedo, a member of the government’s Ideological Department, defended the use of secret interlocutors and characterized media reports surrounding the grandson of former leader Raul Castro as “yellow journalism.” He emphasized that Rodriguez Castro serves as the Cuban side’s negotiator by the decision of the country’s highest leadership. The White House and the U.S. State Department did not provide immediate responses to requests for comment.
Known as “Raulito,” Rodriguez Castro remains unsanctioned by the U.S., a distinction that separates him from many other high-level Cuban officials. Michael Bustamante, a history professor at the University of Miami, noted that while the public role of Rodriguez Castro has caught many off-guard, the official acknowledgment suggests he possesses top-level authority, even as the Cuban government maintains a cautious view of the U.S. as a negotiating partner.
The revelation has sparked varied reactions. Former Cuban diplomat Carlos Alzugaray criticized the approach as “crude and clumsy,” arguing that such sensitive matters should not be handled through the press. Additionally, Maria Del Carmen Hernandez Carus, the mother of a government communication official, publicly questioned the appropriateness of his media appearances. However, Frank Mora, a professor at Florida International University, suggested that the criticism is somewhat exaggerated, noting that Rodriguez Castro retains the confidence of the highest levels of power in Cuba.
The discourse surrounding his role coincided with a United Nations General Assembly debate regarding the U.S. embargo on Cuba. During the session, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz criticized the Castro family’s lifestyle, questioning how they afford private jets and luxury items while the nation faces severe food and fuel shortages. In response, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla condemned what he described as an “unconventional war” by the U.S. that has become increasingly ruthless over the last seven months.
“If there's no food and fuel for hospitals, how is there fuel for the Castro private family jet? How does President (Miguel) Díaz-Canel afford – you can look it up online – his Hermes tie?” U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said. “How does he afford his Rolex watch and the Montblanc pen that he writes with? How does the Castro family afford their 17 homes, their private island, their splashy trips to Madrid and Moscow and the Costa Del Sol?”
