With the US pressuring Cuba, a Castro known as ‘the Crab’ is making appearances. Here’s why it matters

As the U.S. intensifies its pressure on Cuba, a Castro referred to as ‘the Crab’ is stepping into the public eye. Here’s why this development holds significance

On Friday, Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, the grandson of former Cuban leader Raúl Castro, made his debut in public alongside President Miguel Díaz-Canel at two events, prompting analysts to question his emerging influence. This appearance coincides with Cuba’s mounting challenges from U.S. economic and political pressure, which has intensified in recent months.

The following day, he joined Díaz-Canel in a gathering with Communist Party leaders and Council of Ministers officials. In a subsequent press event, Díaz-Canel outlined the nation’s challenges, including ailing infrastructure and resource scarcity, while confirming ongoing U.S. diplomatic engagement. The talks between Havana and Washington, however, remain unverified by the State Department or Cuban authorities.

Cuba’s Crisis and Strategic Shifts

Cuba confronts growing demands for a shift in its leadership from the U.S., as its communist government grapples with a deepening crisis. Decades of sanctions and internal mismanagement have left the country on the brink of a humanitarian emergency, marked by widespread power outages, reduced hospital operations, and escalating shortages of fuel and food. Tourism, once a vital sector, has also declined significantly.

The situation worsened following the January 3 U.S. operation that ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, who had been a key supplier of discounted oil to Cuba. Washington’s move to cut off Venezuela’s oil shipments has further strained Havana’s economy, compounding existing difficulties. Analysts suggest this disruption is part of a broader plan to weaken Cuba’s socialist regime.

“Raúl Guillermo, ‘el Cangrejo’ (the Crab), … became head of Raúl’s personal guard, his personal security detail,” said Sebastián Arcos, director of the Cuban Research Institute at Florida International University. “Eventually, he became head of what would be the Cuban equivalent of the Secret Service.”

Rodríguez Castro, 41, is the son of Débora Castro Espín, one of Raúl Castro’s daughters, and Luis Alberto Rodríguez López-Calleja, a former military commander who oversaw the Business Administration Group (GAESA). His father, who passed away in 2022, was a trusted confidant of the former president, according to the Associated Press. Since his death, Rodríguez Castro has ascended through the ranks, taking charge of security during his grandfather’s presidency (2008–2018).

Photos from Reuters show Rodríguez Castro guarding his 94-year-old grandfather during meetings with Pope Francis or Russian officials. Known as “Raulito,” or “Little Raúl,” in Cuban circles, he is also a grand-nephew of Fidel Castro, who led the 1959 revolution and served as president until 2008. Fidel’s health decline in 2016 marked the end of his era, but his legacy endures in figures like his grandson.

International relations expert Fausto Pretelin noted that Rodríguez Castro has no established history within the Communist Party of Cuba. Diana Correa, director of the international relations program at Tecnológico de Monterrey, believes his public rise could signal a new phase in Cuban politics, with potential alliances forming against the current regime.