Thursday, 14th November 2024

Biden might change the US policy on Cuba

As President-elect Joe Biden plans to take office, all signs point to a change in U.S. policy on Cuba.

Friday, 4th December 2020

U.S. President Barack Obama (R) and President Raul Castro (L) of Cuba shake hands during a bilateral meeting at the United Nations Headquarters on September 29, 2015 in New York City.  Castro and Obama are in New York City to attend the 70th anniversary general assembly meetings. (Photo by Anthony Behar-Pool/Getty Images)

As President-elect Joe Biden plans to take office, all signs point to a change in U.S. policy on Cuba. On the drive trail, Biden enthusiastically indicated that he would pursue an opportunity with the tyranny to reverse course on the four years of sanctions under U.S. President Donald Trump.

Trump’s policies do much of the work of the Obama government to break the long-standing b normalizing relations with the Castro dictatorship, offering some concessions, and working in proximity with Cuban officials to restart business and diplomatic ties.

Yet Biden’s team should consider the wisdom of jumping boldly towards another slog to improve ties with the longtime U.S. foe. Within several years, Cuba’s intransigence on human rights internally and the destructive role it plays beyond its borders have become positive.

While, far more pressing challenges than U.S.-Cuba relations now face the region, even as arguments for the broader strategic benefits of showering Havana with grants are failing the test of time.

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In many forms, the Obama presidency prioritized its availability with Havana at the expense of writing more important regional crises. As U.S. arbitrators secured agreements with Havana on issues like oceanic conservation and profitable air travel, the last traces of democracy were unravelling in Venezuela and Nicaragua, coca bearing in Colombia was skyrocketing, and public corruption was also festering beneath the surface of the region’s most fairly stable governments.

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