Despite the fact that the Berlin Wall fell down two decades ago during the collapse of the Soviet Union, the U.S. economic embargo on Cuba remains. Despite all of the shifting sands in terms of America’s bilateral relationships during the last half a century, the hostile relationship between the U.S. and Cuba looks the same as it did in 1961, when the our country severed diplomatic relations with Cuba and imposed an economic embargo upon the fledgling island nation.
In light of dramatic economic and political reforms within Cuba, President Obama should seize the opportunity now to reestablish diplomatic ties with Cuba and put an end to this senseless embargo, which has cut off ordinary Cubans from the rest of the world and hampered their ability to succeed economically.
During the first half of the 20th century, Cuba was under semi-direct control by the U.S., which dictated its foreign affairs and protected American business interests on the island. The U.S. propped up President Fulgencio Batista, a brutal dictator who received power via a military coup in 1953. The harsh poverty and suppression of political opponents proved to be the perfect storm for a mass revolt, prompting a full scale revolution beginning in 1953.
Fidel Castro and his brother, in conjunction with the Argentinian Marxist Che Guevara (the bearded guy that left-leaning political junkies wear on their T-shirts at every protest), successfully overthrew the Batista government and installed a Marxist-Leninist government. Inspired by Marxist ideology, Fidel quickly established ties with the Soviet Union, and thus Cuba became a significant geopolitical threat to the U.S. due to its proximity. It prompted national insecurity and dealt an embarrassing blow to the American psyche during the apex of the Cold War.
In 1962, President John F. Kennedy issued an executive order placing heavy trade restrictions on Cuba, and in the aftermath of the Cuban Missile Crisis, he imposed a near complete ban on U.S. tourism to the island nation.
Up until the end of the Cold War, Cuba remained relatively unscathed by the embargo since much of its economy was subsidized by the Soviet Union. However, when the USSR collapsed, support to Cuba ended and a big depression ensued into the mid-‘90s, causing a mass food shortage. Fidel Castro, who opposed any market reforms up until that point, had no option but to begin making friendlier relations with countries like Canada and the UK. However, the U.S. stubbornly would not open up to Cuba, partially due to the fact that many exiles who immigrated to the U.S. to escape Castro’s reign hold a huge sway in Florida politics, a key swing sate during the presidential elections. Many Cuban ex-pats have traditionally felt resentful of Fidel’s repressive regime.
Attitudes towards Cuba are changing however. According to the Cuba Policy Foundation, 52 percent of Americans favor ending the embargo, and an overwhelming 67 percent want an immediate end to travel restrictions. Furthermore, a recent poll conducted by Florida International University indicates that 52 percent of Cuban-Americans want an immediate end to the embargo, and when the statistics are narrowed to 18-29 year olds, most of whom are second and third-generation Cuban-Americans, a whopping 63 percent call for opening up trade back with Cuba.
Additionally, Cuba has taken massive efforts to reform economically and politically. For example, they have relaxed their stranglehold over the private sector and are allowing citizens to take private-sector jobs; additionally, they recently began allowing individuals to own property. In April of this year, Cuban representatives began negotiating a cooperation agreement with the European Union.
Although Cuba remains relatively authoritarian and continues to harass political dissidents, it has released many political prisoners and relaxed travel restrictions in recent years.
Considering the Cold War is over, Cuba with its roughly $2 Billion military expenditure, poses no threat to the U.S., which spends 250 times more on defense. Additionally, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce estimates that the annual cost of our current sanctions ranges from $1.2 to 3.6 billion. Simply put, it is against common sense that the U.S. maintains an irrational policy based off bad blood from obsolete foreign relations strategies, especially since the majority of Americans are now against the status quo when it comes to Cuba.
President Obama has the opportunity to change history. He should end the senseless policy of economic sanctions and restore diplomatic ties with Cuba, especially since both countries stand to benefit.