Cuba-United States relations stories

Aug 11, 2026

Raúl Castro's grandson accused of links to Cuban mafia amid role as key envoy to Trump

Raúl Rodríguez Castro, known as "El Cangrejo" and a key figure in Cuba-U.S. negotiations, has been accused of supporting a human trafficking network linked to Cuban organized crime in Quintana Roo, Mexico, according to testimony from a detained gang member reported by The New York Times.

Aug 11, 20262 sources

Jul 13, 2026

US Treasury Imposes New Sanctions on Cuba's Tourism Ministry and State-Owned Entities

The United States Department of the Treasury has sanctioned Cuba's Ministry of Tourism and other state-owned companies, expanding existing sanctions to target a key sector of Cuba's economy amid growing tensions between the two countries.

Jul 13, 20263 sources

May 20, 2026

Secretary of State Marco Rubio offers Cuba 'new relationship' with US in Spanish-language message

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a message to the Cuban people offering a potential 'new relationship' with the United States while condemning the island's Communist leadership. The outreach was made in Spanish on May 20, 2026.

May 20, 20262 sources

Top claims

▪At least 25 people died during maritime transit operations conducted by the Cuban mafia in Quintana Roo.
▪Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro previously served as the personal bodyguard to his grandfather, former Cuban President Raúl Castro, during official state visits.
▪Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, a colonel in the Cuban interior ministry and grandson of Raúl Castro, is nicknamed El Cangrejo due to a congenital condition of having an extra finger.

People involved

Donald Trump Raúl Castro

Subtopics

Rising US-Cuba tensions3 U.S. Foreign Policy2 Economic warfare1 Human trafficking1 Organized crime1 Political messaging1 Sanctions & economic countermeasures1

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