Cuba Sought Secret Backchannel to Trump
AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa
Cuba attempted to reach President Trump through an unusual backchannel by sending a physical letter intended for direct delivery to the White House. According to sources cited by the Wall Street Journal, the plan involved the grandson of former Cuban leader Raúl Castro, who asked a prominent Havana businessman to personally carry the message to Washington instead of using normal diplomatic routes. The approach also appeared designed to avoid going through Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The letter reportedly carried an official Cuban seal and resembled a formal diplomatic communication. Sources said it included proposals for economic cooperation and investment opportunities, a request for relief from U.S. sanctions, and a warning that Cuban authorities are preparing for the possibility of U.S. military action.
The person tasked with delivering the message was Roberto Carlos Chamizo González, a 37-year-old entrepreneur known for luxury car and resort ventures in Havana. However, he never reached Washington. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers stopped him in Miami, confiscated the letter, and sent him back to Cuba, according to the Journal, which cited a current U.S. official.
Observers say the effort was coordinated by Raúl Rodríguez Castro, a grandson of Raúl Castro who holds influence within Cuba’s leadership circle. Analysts believe the move reflects concern inside the Cuban government as the country struggles with a worsening economic crisis and an attempt to communicate directly with President Trump rather than work through traditional diplomatic channels.
Peter Kornbluh, co-author of “Back Channel to Cuba: The Hidden History of Negotiations Between Washington and Havana,” said the attempt indicates that Cuban officials may not see Secretary Rubio as a neutral intermediary and instead hoped to present their concerns directly to the president as tensions increase.
The White House has not indicated whether President Trump ever saw the letter.
Meanwhile, sources told USA Today that the Pentagon has intensified planning for a possible military operation involving Cuba. Last month, President Trump said he believed he might “have the honor of taking Cuba.” On Monday, while discussing the war involving Iran, he told USA Today, “We may stop by Cuba after we’re finished with this.”
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