In a significant diplomatic development, senior U.S. officials affiliated with Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s circle have conducted meetings with Raul Guillermo Rodriguez Castro, the grandson of former Cuban leader Raul Castro. The encounter occurred during the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) conference in St. Kitts and Nevis, according to a Miami Herald report published Thursday.
The nature and substance of these discussions remain partially obscured, with uncertainty regarding Secretary Rubio’s direct participation. Rodriguez Castro, who serves as both bodyguard to his grandfather and son of the late head of Cuba’s powerful GAESA military conglomerate, represents a notable figure in these unofficial channels.
This development occurs against the backdrop of Raul Castro’s enduring legacy. The 94-year-old revolutionary leader, who presided over Cuba from 2008 to 2018 and previously served as First Secretary of the Communist Party, remains an iconic figure in Cuban socialism alongside his brother Fidel Castro.
The recent meetings echo previous reports from Axios, which indicated Rubio had been conducting confidential dialogues with Castro’s grandson. A Trump administration official characterized these earlier exchanges as ‘discussions about the future’ rather than formal negotiations.
Both the U.S. State Department and Cuba’s foreign ministry have maintained official silence regarding these developments, declining immediate comment on Reuters’ inquiries.
When pressed by journalists on Wednesday regarding these alleged meetings, Secretary Rubio adopted a cautiously diplomatic stance. While declining to confirm specific details, he emphasized that the United States remains ‘always prepared to talk to officials from any government that have information to share with us.’ He further elaborated that Washington would ‘certainly listen’ to any information about potential changes or moves Cuban officials might be prepared to accept.
Cuban officials were expected to address media inquiries regarding these developments later Thursday, potentially shedding light on Havana’s perspective regarding these unusual diplomatic contacts.