Minute30.com .- In an unexpected twist that seems straight out of a spy novel, the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, would be maintaining direct contacts outside official channels with Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, known as “El Cangrejo”, grandson of the historic leader Raúl Castro.

As revealed by the Axios portal, these “discussions” seek to manage a negotiated solution for the Cuban regime, taking advantage of the total isolation of the island after the recent events in Venezuela.

The key factor: The capture of Nicolás Maduro

The geopolitical table changed drastically on January 3, when the Trump Government managed to capture Nicolás Maduro, the island’s main ally and resource provider.

Without Venezuelan support, Cuba has entered a phase of logistical collapse and feels maximum pressure. Maduro’s capture sent a clear message to Miguel Díaz-Canel and the Castros: the same fate could await them if a transition is not negotiated.

Cuba in the dark: An unprecedented crisis

The sanctions, now in their 67th year, have reached a breaking point in recent weeks. The lack of Venezuelan supplies has caused:

Transport collapse: Almost total absence of public transportation in the main cities.

Energy rationing: Fuel is a luxury, forcing the Government to implement teleworking and distance classes indefinitely.

Shortage: The food and basic services crisis has reached critical levels.

Why with “The Crab”?

Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, who owes his nickname “the crab” to a malformed finger, is not just a relative; He is the head of his grandfather’s personal security and one of the figures with the greatest real access to internal power on the island.

According to analysts, by bypassing the official channels of the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Rubio seeks:

Divide the regime: Generate distrust between the military leadership and the Díaz-Canel government.

Ensure security: Offer guarantees of exit to the Castro family in exchange for a democratic opening.

They are not negotiations, they are “discussions”

“I wouldn’t call them ‘negotiations’ but rather ‘discussions’ about the future,” said a senior Trump administration official, stressing that the goal is to replicate the “maximum pressure” strategy that has already borne fruit in Venezuela.