Cuba and the United States celebrate five years since the restoration of relations
Five years after the announcement of restoring diplomatic ties Cuba and the United States was only temporary warming, and the relationship, rather, are in a state of free fall, it may stop the presidential election in the United States, experts interviewed by RIA Novosti.
Cuba and the United States 20 Jul 2015 reopened its Embassy in the territory of each other. Before the diplomatic contacts between the two countries was carried out through the Swiss Embassy in Washington and Havana, which operated interests sections of both countries. Ending years of confrontation then became possible thanks to the new policy of U.S. President Barack Obama, who in December 2014 announced a policy change in the us policy in this area.
However, the current President of the United States Donald trump didn't wait for the second anniversary of this historic agreement between Washington and Havana in June of 2017 announced the cancellation of "erroneous" policy of his predecessor. The White house noted that the United States remain imposed against Cuba embargo and oppose calls from the UN and other international organizations for its abolition.
"(Relations) in a free fall and outright deterioration. The administration of the trump experiences of explicit hostility to the Cuban government, she has no interest to avoid the escalation," - said Professor University of California Holy names and expert in relations between Cuba and the United States Arturo Lopez-levy.
"Donald trump made a 180-degree turn in foreign policy of the United States against Cuba. He was far from continuing a policy of rapprochement initiated by the Obama, conversely, has begun to tighten sanctions against the island, attacking the main sources of income of the country", - says doctor of Sciences from the University of Paris-Sorbonne and Professor at the University of reunion Salim Lamrani.
He noted that the attacks occur on three main sectors – international cooperation in medicine, remittances from Cuban communities in the United States and tourism.
The administration trump also decided to apply the Helms-Burton that allows you to pursue foreign companies with interests in Cuba, U.S. courts for the purpose of depriving Havana of all foreign investment. In addition, the White house has imposed sanctions against the oil and shipping companies that have commercial relations with the Caribbean country.
"Significant changes in policy towards Cuba in the current administration, trump would not, he will continue to use outdated and counterproductive measures that will affect the Cuban people and, to a lesser extent, the people of the United States. This policy is doomed to failure, since, as the history of bilateral relations since 1959, the authorities in Havana will never agree to negotiate under threat or under duress" - said Lamrani.
Agree with him and Lopez-levy, who believes that before the U.S. election it is difficult to expect any change.
"If (former us Vice-President Joe) Biden will win, it is likely important bilateral issues will be unlocked, and the relations will return to the period of Obama or, at least, will once again be functional," - says the expert.
It will also be interesting what the balance will be in Congress which amendments can be adopted at its December session. "Relations with Cuba may become important as a test for the adoption of a new approach to Latin America," said Lopez - levy.
"If Joe Biden is elected, he is likely to return to a constructive policy of Obama. For its part, Cuba had always affirmed its willingness to peacefully resolve the dispute, despite the asymmetrical nature of the conflict, when the first world economic power imposes a state of siege, a small third world country," notes Lamrani.
In his opinion, the dialogue should be based on the number of indisputable principles: sovereign equality, reciprocity and non-interference in internal Affairs.
"Havana has repeatedly affirmed that its political system and its socio-economic model is not negotiable, because they belong to the exclusive competence of the sovereign people of Cuba," - said the expert.