Since 1959, US - Cuba relations have always not been great between both nations. Barack Obama when he was the president, tried his best to find ways to end the US embargo on Cuba. Then Donald Trump rollbacked it during his presidency. Now under Joe Biden, it was supposed to be the time for the new chapter for US & Cuba & reversing the previous administration’s policy on Cuba.
Well unfortunately, Biden keeps the Trump era Cuba policy. The policy that dismantled Obama Cuba policy (the Cuban Thaw). The normalisation of US - Cuba relations. The one that the deal was agreed between the United States and Cuba when Joe Biden was the Vice President.
Plus there were big protests in Cuba 4
months ago (in the summertime). Ordinary Cubans citizens protesting against the authoritarianism of the communist Cuban government due to the effects of the covid pandemic & economic crisis with shortages of basic goods. The Cuban govt harshly ended the protesters & jailing those who took part in the protests. Which is not really fair on the Cuban people and it is not just economic woes and coronavirus, it is the US embargo that has been in effect since 1959. The year when Fidel Castro came into power.
I really do sympathise with the Cuban people. Knowing that they have been silenced by the Cuban govt. I absolutely agree that there should be freedom in Cuba. But let’s not lose sight of the US embargo cos up to now, Joe Biden have still not yet done something to end Trump Era Cuba policy.
Even I was disappointed to see America voted against the UN resolution recently. Reaffirming Donald Trump policy on Cuba (the one that Trump rollbacked Obama era Cuba policy). Republicans wants to see the end of communist authoritarianism in Cuba. Okay but what about US embargo?
You cannot have it both ways. Supporting for the Cuban people protesting against authoritarianism while still wanting to keep the embargo on Cuba. It has not worked. I think Biden must decide. Whether to return Barack Obama era policy on Cuba or to keep Trump era Cuba policy.
At some point in the future, there should be agreement between the United States and Cuba on things that can settle their differences. Everything from human rights to the blockade (embargo). So I don’t want to hear Republicans like Ted Cruz or Marco Rubio or some Cuban Americans advocating to keep the embargo.
And unfortunately, Joe Biden retains hawkish Trump era policy on Cuba (the policy of confrontation that rollbacked Obama Cuba policy) which I was not impressed about it.
Republicans: End the dictatorship in Cuba. Also Republicans: Keep the embargo. It makes no sense logically. No wonder the foolish Miami mayor who is Republican, talked about invading the communist nation (Cuba) with air strikes. Perhaps GOP politicians should read history about the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion before talking nonsense about regime change in Cuba to get rid of the dictatorship given it will not solve problems for the Cuban citizens.
News sources:
At the end of the day, Fidel Castro is long gone. Raul Castro is not the Cuban president and left power in April 2018 (the current president is Miguel Diaz Canel) so by now there should had been signs of the re-normalisation between America and Cuba & finishing what Obama started which includes the end of the US embargo gradually & possibly Cuba one day to have democracy (not likely at this moment) but there isn’t one & Joe Biden has not fulfilled his campaign promises to reverse Donald Trump’s policy on Cuba & restoring engagement ties between both countries. For that, I am not impressed. It seems the Democrats are no different than the Republicans.
There are ways to hold the Cuban govt/regime to account but continuing with sanctions just to tighten the embargo, it really serves no purpose & President Joe Biden should really know that before keeping Trump era sanctions.
I really don’t know now whether there is going to be any dialogue between the United States & Cuba anytime soon especially with GOP being so hawkish regarding Cuba & the Dems & Biden being stuck in the middle & not restoring Obama era Cuba policy (normalisation of US - Cuba relations).
That is I said on my previous blog post that it is really time to move on and end the US embargo on Cuba. mrlimitless95.blogspot.com
So until Joe Biden gets his act together, I doubt there wouldn’t be signs of the return to the policy of normalisation (Cuban thaw. The deal that was agreed during the Obama presidency) anytime soon. 🇺🇸🇨🇺
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