Raul Guillermo Rodriguez Castro appears alongside President Miguel Diaz-Canel

Raul Guillermo Rodriguez Castro, grandson of former president Raul Castro, appeared in public alongside Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel on Friday, March 13. The pair participated in a meeting with leaders of the Communist Party of Cuba and the Council of Ministers. Later, they attended a press conference where Diaz-Canel discussed the island's ongoing social and economic crises. The president confirmed that his government has been in communication with the United States regarding the long-standing pressure exerted by Washington since the 1960s. These appearances follow recent reports, including an unverified claim by Axios, suggesting that Rodriguez Castro may have held private discussions with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding Cuba's future. While neither the U.S. State Department nor the Cuban government has confirmed these talks, analysts speculate that Rodriguez Castro is gaining visibility as a potential future leader. This comes as Cuba faces significant political and economic instability. Some observers suggest his new public profile indicates a possible succession strategy amid growing pressure from the United States.