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Hialeah Today
By the People, for the People
Rubio Engaged in 'Secret Talks' with Castro Grandson Amid U.S. Starvation Campaign
The Trump administration's brutal sanctions on Cuba have shuttered hospitals and starved people of food.
Published on Feb. 21, 2026
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been revealed to be engaged in 'secret talks' with the grandson of former Cuban President Raúl Castro, bypassing official communication channels as part of the Trump administration's campaign to starve Cuba of resources in pursuit of regime change. The talks have reportedly been 'surprisingly' friendly, with Rubio apparently looking for the 'next Delcy' in Cuba, referring to the acting Venezuelan president.
Why it matters
The Trump administration has imposed crippling sanctions and an embargo on Cuba, with an executive order last month shutting off oil supplies and causing widespread shortages of food and medical supplies. This use of starvation as a negotiating tactic has drawn international condemnation, and Rubio's secret talks with the Castro family raise questions about the administration's true motives and strategy.
The details
According to Axios, Rubio has been in regular contact with Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, the grandson of former Cuban President Raúl Castro and the great-nephew of Fidel Castro. The talks have been described as 'surprisingly friendly,' with Rubio apparently looking for a Cuban counterpart to Venezuela's acting president Delcy Rodríguez, who has led the country since the Trump administration abducted President Nicolás Maduro.
- Last month, Trump signed an executive order imposing harsher penalties on nations supplying Cuba with oil.
- On Tuesday, Trump openly cheered his administration's use of starvation as a negotiating tactic, calling Cuba a 'failed nation' that should 'absolutely make a deal.'
The players
Marco Rubio
The current U.S. Secretary of State, who has been engaged in 'secret talks' with the grandson of former Cuban President Raúl Castro.
Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro
The grandson of former Cuban President Raúl Castro and the great-nephew of Fidel Castro, who has been in 'surprisingly friendly' talks with Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Donald Trump
The current President of the United States, who has imposed crippling sanctions and an embargo on Cuba, and has openly cheered the use of starvation as a negotiating tactic.
What’s next
The Trump administration has not yet decided on the exact details of its plan for regime change in Cuba, but the secret talks between Rubio and the Castro grandson suggest that the administration is exploring various options, including potential negotiations with the Cuban government.
The takeaway
The Trump administration's use of starvation as a negotiating tactic against Cuba has drawn widespread condemnation, and Rubio's secret talks with the Castro family raise questions about the true motives and strategy behind the administration's Cuba policy. This case highlights the complex and often opaque nature of U.S. foreign policy, particularly when it comes to dealing with adversarial regimes.
