U.S. officials close to Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Raúl Castro’s grandson, Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, on the sidelines of the CARICOM summit in St. Kitts, as Washington explores possible economic and political reforms in Cuba.

Sources familiar with the discussions said Rodríguez Castro — a close aide and bodyguard to Raúl Castro and widely believed to have influence over the military-run conglomerate GAESA — met with a senior Rubio adviser at a hotel near the conference. It remains unclear whether Rubio met him directly.

The talks reportedly focused on the potential for gradually easing U.S. sanctions in exchange for month-to-month reforms by Havana. A Caribbean diplomat said Rubio indicated discussions were “well advanced,” though other sources stressed no deal has been finalized.

Rubio, who declined to confirm specific conversations, said the U.S. is willing to listen if Cuban officials are open to “dramatic reforms,” particularly economic changes that expand the private sector. He suggested Washington is not seeking immediate regime change but structural reform, warning that without change, Cuba’s humanitarian and economic crisis will worsen.

CARICOM leaders, traditionally supportive of Cuba, were left with the impression that quiet dialogue is underway. Some were reportedly encouraged not to raise the issue publicly during the summit.