The United States held talks with the grandson of Raul Castro. 5 facts about a representative of the Cuban elite

For the first time in ten years, the United States secretly sent a delegation to Cuba, where talks were held in Havana with representatives of the country's leadership, including Raul Guillermo Rodriguez Castro, the grandson of former Cuban President Raul Castro. This meeting was the first such contact since the visit of former US President Barack Obama in 2016. Despite the formal departure of the Castro clan from power in 2018, its representatives are becoming more active again amid US pressure and the energy crisis. What is known about Raul Guillermo Rodriguez Castro is in the Izvestia article.

Fact 1. Guardian and bodyguard of Raul Castro

• Raul Guillermo Rodriguez Castro is a representative of a narrow circle of heirs of the Cuban elite, the grandson of Raul Castro and the son of Deborah Castro and Luis Alberto Lopez-Callejas. The family influences key sectors of the economy, in particular tourism, imports, and infrastructure — by about $11 billion.

He began his career in the power unit as his grandfather's personal bodyguard, gaining access to the highest level of decision-making. Over time, he began overseeing the security system and the associated security market, which gave him control over information and resources and allowed him to form a loyalty network that strengthens his position within the elite.

• Rodriguez Castro actually controls access to his 94-year-old grandfather Raul Castro, who retains a shadowy influence. This makes him a key intermediary in communication within the elite. His role enhances the political weight: a significant part of decisions pass through him or are consistent with him, forming the level of informal governance.

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Fact 2. "Crab" and "Super Grandson"

• From an early age, Rodriguez Castro received several nicknames. One of them is related to a physical feature at birth: he was born with six fingers, for which he was called a Crab.

• He later received another nickname, Super Grandson, which reflects his special status in the Castro family. Experts note that his grandfather singled him out from other relatives and entrusted him with important functions, including monitoring personal security and participating in political communications, which allowed him to become one of the few representatives of the new generation allowed to make decisions. At the same time, his status is enhanced by constant physical access to the former leader and the role of mediator in negotiations, including contacts with US representatives, which in 2026 take place against the backdrop of the economic crisis and sanctions pressure.

Fact 3. He was engaged in the protection of VIP guests

• Raul Rodriguez Castro participated in ensuring the safety of foreign VIP guests during the period of a sharp increase in tourism in Cuba, when in 2016-2018 the country was visited annually by 4 million to 4.7 million people, and the number of American visits after restrictions were relaxed exceeded 600 thousand per year. Among the specific cases, the media highlights the visit of Beyonce and Jay-Z, when they celebrated their wedding anniversary in Havana.

In 2017, Rodriguez Castro appeared at private social events in the resort of Varadero, where he spent time with the popular musical group Gente de Zona. These episodes resonated because they showed his closeness to representatives of show business.

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Fact 4. The Grey Cardinal

• Rodriguez Castro grew up in the elite of the Cuban system, received a military and economic education, and rose to the rank of colonel. Despite all this, he does not hold key positions in the government or the Communist Party and is not considered a charismatic politician, remaining relatively little known even in Cuba. His influence is assessed primarily through his control over law enforcement agencies and proximity to his grandfather, who continues to play an important behind-the-scenes role.

• For the United States, it can become a convenient channel for negotiations and a potential participant in the transition period. At the same time, it is unlikely that Washington will rely on a representative of the Castro family as the new leader, given the position of the Cuban diaspora in the United States and the peculiarities of the island's political system.

Fact 5. Escaped punishment for an accident

• Despite the severe economic crisis in Cuba, Raul Guillermo Rodriguez Castro leads a privileged lifestyle: he has been seen at lavish weddings, private banquets and yacht trips, as well as among the guests of elite events. He regularly flies abroad on private jets and is allegedly involved in business operations in Panama, where he bought real estate.

• At the same time, his name appears in the 2022 traffic accident scandal. According to media reports, he was driving a car that collided with a wagon, as a result of which a 19-year-old girl was seriously injured. At the same time, the case has not received a public investigation, and the victim has not received the promised assistance in full and is living in difficult conditions. This caused criticism due to the impunity of a representative of the political elite.