Scoop: Inside the historic U.S.-Cuba negotiations in Havana
April 17, 2026
U.S. State Department officials met in Havana with Cuban apparatchiks —including the grandson of aging strongman Raul Castro — to urge democratic and economic freedoms and warn of the risks of not heeding their advice, Axios has learned. The U.S. delegation also offered to help restore internet services by setting up Starlink satellite services. Why it matters: The meeting last Friday itself marks a diplomatic breakthrough because it's the first time a U.S. government plane has touched down since President Obama visited a decade ago in an effort for rapprochement. This time, Cuba is closer to societal collapse than ever, President Trump is in office with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and they're far less inclined to make concessions. Zoom in : A senior State Department official told Axios that multiple meetings took place but would not name the participants, except for one —Raul Guillermo Rodriguez Castro, the grandson of Castro. Known as Raulito and nicknamed "El Cangrejo" ("the crab"), the younger Castro is seen by the U.S. as a de facto spokesman for his grandfather, who remains the real power in Cuba, as Axios first reported. The U.S. officials impressed on the Castro regime that "the Cuban economy is in free fall and that the island's ruling elites have a small window to make key U.S. backed reforms before circumstances irreversibly worsen," the official told Axios. The big picture: Aside from the offer of Starlink access and a discussion of Cuba's need to reform its economic and governing system, the State Department officials also reiterated longstanding U.S. policy to help eliminate the Cuban embargo. They include: Compensating U.S. residents and corporations whose assets and properties were confiscated after the 1959 Revolution. The release of political prisoners. Ensuring the Cuban people greater political freedoms, which would eventually include free and fair elections. Friction point : U.S. officials also expressed "concerns about foreign intelligence, military, and terror groups operating with Cuban governmental permission less than 100 miles from the American homeland," the official said. The bottom line : Without directly threatening the Cuban officials, the U.S. also made clear that Trump's government will not allow a disaster to occur on the island 90 miles south of Key West. "President Trump is committed to pursuing a diplomatic solution, if possible, but will not let the island collapse into a major national security threat if Cuba's leaders are unwilling or unable to act," the official said. This is a developing story, check for updates.
In a significant diplomatic development, senior officials from the U.S. State Department conducted secret negotiations in Havana last week, marking a pivotal moment in the complex relationship between the two nations. The arrival of a U.S. government aircraft in Cuba was a landmark event, the first since President Obama's visit a decade ago, signaling a new phase of engagement under President Donald Trump. The talks were held as Cuba grapples with a deepening economic crisis, characterized by severe energy shortages and widespread hardship, a situation the U.S. has described as an economy in "free fall."
The American delegation delivered a stark message to the Cuban leadership, emphasizing that a "small window" exists for the island's ruling elites to enact crucial U.S.-backed reforms before the situation deteriorates irreversibly. A key figure in these discussions was Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, the grandson of former President Raúl Castro. Known as "El Cangrejo," Rodríguez Castro is a high-ranking state security official who serves as his grandfather's chief bodyguard and is considered a de facto spokesman for the elder Castro, who is still seen as the primary power on the island. This direct engagement with a member of the Castro family's inner circle underscores Washington's strategy of communicating with the core of Cuban authority.
During the meetings, U.S. officials presented a combination of incentives and longstanding demands. The U.S. offered to help establish Starlink satellite internet services, a move that could dramatically alter the controlled information environment in Cuba. Simultaneously, the delegation reiterated core U.S. conditions for lifting the decades-old embargo. These include the release of all political prisoners, providing compensation for assets confiscated from U.S. citizens and companies after the 1959 revolution, and ensuring greater political freedoms that would ultimately pave the way for free and fair elections.
Beyond the economic and political proposals, the U.S. envoys voiced serious national security concerns. The officials expressed alarm over the presence of foreign intelligence, military, and terrorist groups operating in Cuba with government consent, less than 100 miles from American shores. This point of friction highlights the Trump administration's focus on mitigating potential threats in close proximity to the U.S. mainland, a policy that has gained prominence under Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a long-time critic of the Cuban government.
The Havana meeting represents a nuanced approach by the Trump administration, blending a hardline stance with a willingness to pursue diplomatic solutions. While not issuing direct threats, the U.S. made it clear that it will not permit the island's collapse to evolve into a major national security crisis so close to its borders. President Trump is committed to finding a diplomatic path forward if possible, but has also signaled that his government is prepared to act if Cuba's leaders are unable or unwilling to prevent a worsening catastrophe. The outcome of these historic talks remains to be seen, but they have opened a critical new chapter in U.S.-Cuba relations.
Source: axios