Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, dubbed 'El Cangrejo', is the grandson of Raúl Castro and the son of Débora Castro Espín and the late general Luis Alberto Rodríguez López-Callejas. His connections within the Cuban power structure have resurfaced following reports that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has had private conversations with him. This development suggests that U.S. officials view Raúl Castro as maintaining important influence in Cuba, even after stepping down from the presidency.

Rodríguez Castro left Cuba in 2022 and sought political asylum in the United States after crossing the southern border. He first settled in Las Vegas, taking on various jobs including working in small businesses and cleaning pools. His recent emergence in the public eye and engagement with U.S. officials raises questions about the future political landscape of Cuba and the role of the Cuban exile community in shaping U.S.-Cuba relations.

With Rodríguez Castro taking on a managerial role at Gran Azul LLC in late 2024, there are implications for business ties between Cuban expatriates and American enterprises, fostering a potential bridge between the two nations. His ties to influential figures in Cuba and his recent interactions with U.S. policymakers signal a growing interest in Cuban-American relations as the political dynamics of the island evolve, potentially impacting both local and international strategies regarding Cuba.