Axios: US Secretary of State holds secret talks on Cuba’s future

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is reportedly holding secret discussions about Cuba’s future with Raúl Guillermo Rodriguez Castro, grandson of former Cuban Council of State and Council of Ministers chairman Raúl Castro (2008–2018), sources told Axios.

The contacts are taking place outside official Cuban government channels. A senior official in the administration of US President Donald Trump described the meetings as “discussions” rather than formal negotiations.

The American side has also engaged with other influential Cubans, but Rodriguez Castro is seen as the key figure for establishing essential connections, according to Axios. Known as "Raulito," the younger Castro is nicknamed "El Cangrejo" ("The Crab") in political circles due to a deformed finger.

Against this backdrop, Cuba’s long-standing economic and political struggles become even more apparent. After 67 years of enduring US sanctions and decades of internal mismanagement, Cuba’s totalitarian regime appears closer than ever to collapse, with the island nation now teetering on the brink of a severe humanitarian crisis.

The situation worsened following President Trump’s January 3 operation to abduct and extradite Venezuela’s indicted socialist leader, Nicolas Maduro, who had been supplying Cuba with substantial amounts of free oil.

US military forces demonstrated overwhelming technical superiority during the Maduro operation, suffering no casualties while reportedly killing at least 32 Cuban intelligence and military officials assigned to protect him, according to US officials. 

However, the decision to allow Maduro’s remaining governing allies—most notably Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, now serving as acting president—to remain in power signalled to Cuban insiders that Trump and Senator Marco Rubio were open to negotiating with political rivals.

By Jeyhun Aghazada