The grandson of former Cuban leader Raul Castro, Raul Guillermo Rodriguez Castro, has expressed a willingness to engage in talks with U.S. President Donald Trump. In an exclusive interview, Rodriguez Castro stated that he would be open to negotiations with Trump, should the opportunity arise.
Rodriguez Castro's comments come as a surprise, given that he holds no formal position within the Cuban government. This is particularly notable, as it was just days ago that Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez stated that Havana was not interested in Trump's opinions on issues related to free-market policies under the communist regime.
Rodriguez Castro, who is known as "El Cangrejo" or "The Crab" due to a rare birth defect where he was born with six fingers on his right hand, serves as a bodyguard for his 95-year-old grandfather. He has indicated that, under the right conditions, Cuba would release political prisoners.
The U.S. has been taking a tough stance on Cuba, with the indictment of Raul Castro on murder charges in May. Several members of the Castro family, including Raul's son, Alejandro Castro Espin, have also been sanctioned by the U.S. However, Rodriguez Castro has not faced any sanctions.
The tensions between the U.S. and Cuba have been escalating, with Trump pushing for regime change in the island nation near Florida. The country is facing a crisis, with sanctions and an oil blockade in place. The Pentagon has also drafted plans for potential military action, sparking speculation that Cuba might be the next target following recent American military intervention in Venezuela.
In May, Cuba released the names of thousands of political prisoners who were granted amnesty by the regime while it was in talks with the U.S. over various political disputes.
