On December 17, 2014, President Obama delivered a statement on how his administration will normalize relations with Cuba. He said the earlier stance on Cuba is long “outdated” and “has failed to advance” the interests of the United States (Statement). For the last sixty years, the United States involvement with Cuba has been a grim one. In 1958, when Fidel Castro and his Cuban national rebels were fighting against the Cuban Fulgencio Batista regime, U.S. President Eisenhower imposed an arms embargo on the country (Luxenberg 58). Later in 1959, after the Batista regime fell, Castro converted the country to socialism and terminated, previously strong, relations with the United States (Luxenberg 40). The relations between the two countries deteriorated
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Castro’s predecessor, Batista, worked well with America, but Castro was on the wrong ideological team and appeared as a communist sympathiser (Gleijeses 3). As tensions between the two countries increased, Castro offered the United States an arrangement to allow the countries to coexist peacefully (Gleijeses 42). The arrangement, while specifically stating Cuba would not be open to compromising their beliefs and form of government in favor of pushing American interests, made certain Cuba would make no political alliances with the Soviet Union (Gleijeses 42). The United States unequivocally rejected this offer and concluded that either assassinating Castro or sabotaging his government was necessary to further American interests in Cuba (Gleijeses 42). Famously known as the Bay of Pigs invasion, this invasion was a complete failure (Luxenberg 48). Because of America 's rejection of Castro’s offer and the subsequent military operations, his relationship with the Soviet Union increased (Gleijeses 42). Castro’s newly close relationship with the Soviet Union and Cuba’s proximity to the United States presented the Soviets with an optimal location to house nuclear missiles capable of reaching America (Franklin). In a response to the growing nuclear threat barriers were built placing more sanctions and trade restrictions on Cuba. …show more content…
According to the Cuba Policy Foundation, a United States nonprofit, the embargo removes five billion in annual sales and exports that American companies could collect on (Pepper). If Cuban travel restrictions were removed the Cuba Policy Foundation also estimates that an average of seven hundred eighty thousand Americans would visit Cuba each year in the first five years (Sanders). These visiting Americans would benefit the local economy, increase demand for American goods in Cuba, and create about twelve thousand American airline and cruise ship jobs (Sanders). For what purpose is the United States passing on billions of dollars in profits and thousands of American jobs? It makes little sense to keep a potential trade partner as an enemy because they picked the wrong side of the Cold War which has long faded to
Castro’s predecessor, Batista, worked well with America, but Castro was on the wrong ideological team and appeared as a communist sympathiser (Gleijeses 3). As tensions between the two countries increased, Castro offered the United States an arrangement to allow the countries to coexist peacefully (Gleijeses 42). The arrangement, while specifically stating Cuba would not be open to compromising their beliefs and form of government in favor of pushing American interests, made certain Cuba would make no political alliances with the Soviet Union (Gleijeses 42). The United States unequivocally rejected this offer and concluded that either assassinating Castro or sabotaging his government was necessary to further American interests in Cuba (Gleijeses 42). Famously known as the Bay of Pigs invasion, this invasion was a complete failure (Luxenberg 48). Because of America 's rejection of Castro’s offer and the subsequent military operations, his relationship with the Soviet Union increased (Gleijeses 42). Castro’s newly close relationship with the Soviet Union and Cuba’s proximity to the United States presented the Soviets with an optimal location to house nuclear missiles capable of reaching America (Franklin). In a response to the growing nuclear threat barriers were built placing more sanctions and trade restrictions on Cuba. …show more content…
According to the Cuba Policy Foundation, a United States nonprofit, the embargo removes five billion in annual sales and exports that American companies could collect on (Pepper). If Cuban travel restrictions were removed the Cuba Policy Foundation also estimates that an average of seven hundred eighty thousand Americans would visit Cuba each year in the first five years (Sanders). These visiting Americans would benefit the local economy, increase demand for American goods in Cuba, and create about twelve thousand American airline and cruise ship jobs (Sanders). For what purpose is the United States passing on billions of dollars in profits and thousands of American jobs? It makes little sense to keep a potential trade partner as an enemy because they picked the wrong side of the Cold War which has long faded to