For the first time in more than fifty years, the United States sat down and attended talks with the Raul Castro, the leader of Cuba. This historic event took place in Panama, at the Summit of the Americas. The meeting was President Obama’s first step towards the goal he announced late last year regarding the improvement of relations between the two countries by restoring diplomatic relations. This would include the re-opening of a Cuban Embassy in Washington D.C. and an American Embassy in Havana, Cuba, something that has not been imagined for some time. This particular summit meeting was also important for Cuba as it was the first time that the country was permitted to participate in talks since the inception of the Summit of the Americas, over twenty years ago.
One road block remaining in the path of an open relationship with Cuba is the fact that the country remains on the United States list of state sponsors of terrorism. It is expected that President Obama will eventually remove Cuba from the list, however, the President stated that this would not take place very quickly. The President plans to closely monitor and study the situation further before reaching that final decision.
President Castro, now 83 years old, delivered a speech that lasted close to an hour wherein he praised President Obama, aged 53, stating that he had read his books and admired him personally. President Castro referred to President Obama as “brave” referring to his efforts towards normalizing relations between the United States and Cuba. To this end, President Obama is seeking to lift the trade embargo currently in place between the two countries as well as lifting the travel restrictions that have been in place close to a half of a century by asking Congress for their support. These restrictions have set Cuba back tremendously by keeping them from the opportunity to bank openly with the United States and various other countries.
President Obama insisted that “The Cold War has been over for a long time.” He asserted that he the United States is a country that will continue to look forward, not behind at the past. He further commented, “I’m not interested in having battles that frankly started before I was born.”
The meeting between the two leaders lasted close to an hour but not every point was agreed upon. One thing both leaders agreed on is that it will take time for all of the differences between the two nations to be addressed.
The improved relationship with Cuba is being perceived as a potentially greater opportunity for the United States to increase relations with other countries in South America. President Obama has been highly criticized by a few South American countries for the sanctions he imposed against several Venezuelan politicians. The United States has accused these individuals of gross human rights violations committed in their own country. However, his newly opened dialogue with Cuba in addition to his support and steps towards a Comprehensive Immigration Reform have won him some new admiration.
Many Cubans are fearful that renewed relations with Cuba will result in mass deportations of Cubans who currently reside in the United States under Orders of Supervision because the U.S. cannot physically deport them to Cuba.
