Wiping out the last traces of Cold War

In a remarkable move President Obama made a surprise announcement of restoring full diplomatic relationship with the Cuban island frozen for more than five decades. In a bid to sweep away the last vestiges of the Cold War, the US announced opening of US Embassy at Havana. The thawing of the relationships resulted in prisoners swap and was consolidated by a telephonic conversation between President Obama and Raul Castro. Stalemate persisted with former Spanish colony 150 kilometres away from the shores of Florida due to oceans of mistrust and hostility.

Diplomatic relationships with Cuba were called off in 1961 as Fidel Castro forged alliance with Soviet Union in 1959 and loomed large over its neighbouring Northern giant nation.

The US threatened by growing closeness between Castro and Nikita Khrushchev, launched an invasion with trained Cuban exiles at Bay of Pigs. The US trained brigade failed miserably but determined to establish a non-communist regime in Cuba, US launched Operation Mongoose - a plan to sabotage and destabilise the Cuban economy. In turn, Cuba turned into a strategic haven for the Soviet which deployed medium-range missiles, MIG fighter planes, submarines loaded with torpedoes and three battalions of combat army in Cuba by September 1962 and the crisis of cold war peaked when American U-2 spy plane was shot down over Cuba. Thus, US- Cuban relations were marred by these rancorous issues.

The announcement from White House was intended to forbid outdated approach and to normalise relations with Cuba. Obama after his re-election authorised secret negotiations with Cuba hosted by Canada and Vatican for the past 18 months at the behest of Pope Francis. The President by executive authority for now eased restrictions on remittances, travel and banking while Cuba would allow more internet access and release 53 Cubans identified as political prisoners by the US. Although the trade embargo will remain in place the telephonic conversation has opened up a channel for finding new solutions for many problems. The mutually belligerent policies have sealed off relationships between nations for 54 years. Cuba along with Iran and North Korea are the only countries with no formal relationships with the US. Now steps are initiated to remove Cuba for the list of states that sponsor terrorism.

Following the announcement by the White House two antagonistic views were making rounds. Initial domestic backlash by the Republicans have been the strongest contesting the offer of Obama and remarking him as appeaser-in-chief. But the public has supported the move of lifting embargo on Cuba. While the younger generation expressed desire for more openness and were optimistic older ones were keener on isolation.

After Raul Castro assumed charge in 2008 there has been perceptible change in Cuban economy. Till now the moribund economy has been sustained by the subsidies from Venezuela in form of cheap oil. But declining oil prices plunged Venezuelan economy into deep economic crisis. Moreover after collapse of the Soviet Union and Russia staring at economic instability it was timely move by the US to repeal its long-standing embargo on Cuba. Brazil and Latin American countries had threatened not to participate in Summit of Americas in Panama in April if Cuba was excluded. But lifting embargo might gain momentum post-2016 presidential elections, if Cuban-Americans in Florida State shift sentiment towards better engagement.

The US trade embargo with Cuba has been codified by a 1996 law- Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act or Helms-Burton Act signed by President Clinton. US administration has under this had charted out democracy promotion programs and funnelled around $40 million aid to dissidents on the island. For the past 50 years the US policy towards Cuba was to prevent Cuba from exporting its revolution to Latin America and Africa and to remove Castros from power. While it was successful in its first goal, the second remained elusive. US embargo had hurt the Cuban economy but it continued trade with other countries in Europe, Latin America and Asia.

After the fall of the Soviet Union, for the past 20 years the US openly tolerated and collaborated with leftist nations like Venezuela, Honduras , Bolivia and other Latin American nations. The US can no longer find any justification for isolating Cuba as a terror sponsor nation. Continued isolation by the Cuban-American lobby failed to spring counter democratic revolution in the island.

Though the despotic regimes of the dictator brothers continue to loom large over the island, the economy continues its search for growth and is actively looking for investments from other countries. Security threats symptomatic of cold war from the island no longer exist, hence US shouldn’t let go this opportunity at a time when Cubans are trying to rejoin the regional and World economy.

The geographical proximity of the nation may cost the US dearly if it continues to push for a policy of diplomatic isolation.

By: Ramaharitha Pusarla