The public debut of Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, known as "El Cangrejo" or "Raulito," who is the grandson of Cuba's former dictator Raúl Castro, has ignited a storm of anger and mockery among Cubans on social media.
On Friday, just a day after the regime approved 176 economic measures in the National Assembly, El Cangrejo gave his first interview to an international media outlet. His aim was to defend these economic reforms and call for dialogue with Washington.
However, the main question on everyone's mind wasn't about the economic policies but rather the legitimacy of the person championing them. Raulito holds no official government position in Cuba and has never been elected through any democratic process.
The Role of El Cangrejo
He serves as a lieutenant colonel in the Ministry of the Interior and has been the head of Raúl Castro's General Directorate of Personal Security since 2016, a role that many Cubans simply see as the bodyguard of his grandfather.
"Being the grandson of Raúl Castro doesn't give him the authority to speak on behalf of Cuba. Official representation requires an official position or appointment," one user commented, capturing the general sentiment.
Public Backlash and Irony
Another widely shared comment highlighted the core of the issue: "What bothers me the most is how he treats the situation as if it were a property dispute. Cuba isn't a property; it's a country with people who have been turned into slaves, held hostage by a single family."
The nickname "El Cangrejo" was a focal point for numerous ironic reactions. "But crabs walk backward," one person noted. "The people will walk at the crustacean's pace, while they move full speed ahead," added another.
Unexpected Public Appearance
After 67 years, Raúl Castro and his grandson have supposedly identified the flaws and charted the strategies for the next decades. "Nothing to fear," one commenter sarcastically remarked.
The recurring question, "And this guy speaks?" reflected the surprise at the public debut of someone who had operated behind the scenes until now. "I thought he was mute," one user wrote. "Finally, the heir speaks," said another. "A bodyguard with power. It's like a movie," summarized a third.
Motivations Behind Economic Advocacy
Several comments directly questioned El Cangrejo's and his family's motivations for advocating economic openness at this time. "Obviously he's going to defend it, since it works 100% for him," one user commented.
"Of course he agrees, it's like a free pass to keep living off the people," added another. "I imagine he has to defend it because it's likely his source of income in the new economic model," noted a third.
Secret Talks with the U.S.
In February 2026, Axios revealed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio was secretly negotiating with Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro to explore transition scenarios that bypassed the Communist Party and Miguel Díaz-Canel.
By May, CIA Director John Ratcliffe had traveled to Havana to meet with El Cangrejo, establishing him as the primary informal conduit between the regime's leadership and Washington.
In his interview with The National, Raúl Guillermo was clear about the limits of the reforms. "We want to achieve a more open economic model with greater participation from national and foreign private capital... and for that, we're neither willing nor prepared to transform the Cuban political system."
Pressures Mounting on the Regime
He also acknowledged that negotiations with the Trump administration had stalled: "I wish I could say yes to that question, but the reality is no."
The emergence of this figure comes at a time of extreme pressure on the regime. Since January 2026, the Trump administration has imposed oil restrictions under Executive Order 14380, leading to power outages lasting over twenty hours daily.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, has warned that children in Cuba are dying due to a lack of medication. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Justice formally charged Raúl Castro for the 1996 downing of two Brothers to the Rescue planes, resulting in four deaths.
The U.S. described the 176 economic measures on Saturday as "superficial smoke signals," while Vice President JD Vance responded cautiously: "Let's see what they do. If they make smart decisions, we will have a much better relationship with that island."
Questions About Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro's Role
Why is Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro called "El Cangrejo"?
Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro is nicknamed "El Cangrejo" which means "The Crab" in Spanish, often used ironically by critics to denote backwardness, as crabs are known for walking sideways or backward.
What authority does Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro have to speak for Cuba?
Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro does not hold any official government position in Cuba nor has he been elected through a democratic process. His authority is questioned as he is primarily known as Raúl Castro's personal security chief, not a political leader.
What are the criticisms of the economic measures defended by El Cangrejo?
Critics argue that the economic measures are superficial and do not address the deeper systemic issues in Cuba. They also question the legitimacy of Raúl Guillermo's role in defending these measures, given his lack of official standing.