This article is the first in a two-part series on Cuba’s designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism. Once on the list, a country is subject to lawsuits in U.S. courts that would otherwise be dismissed on the basis of sovereign immunity. It is the court judgments, resulting from such suits, that have long-term implications for U.S.–Cuba relations.
2021 could yet prove to be a pivotal year in U.S.-Cuban relations, but much will rest on how domestic politics in both countries play out under their respective leadership.
DePalma focuses on a narrow slice of Havana and a number of its families, creating an excellent read about the lives of “ordinary” citizens.
Cuba has entered the 2020s much in the same fashion as it did in the 1990s; the world is a more uncertain place, its main economic backer is riven by a major economic collapse, and its relations with its northern neighbor are tense. But there are differences.
While the Helms-Burton Act imposes conditions that must be met before the Cuban embargo can be lifted, the president has “the authority to unilaterally terminate the embargo based upon the constitutional primacy of the president’s office in managing U.S. foreign relations.”
In looking for pragmatic solutions to address the COVID-19 crisis, and given the absence of global leadership during the pandemic, Caribbean governments are seeking support from long-time partner, Cuba.
Freedom House’s Freedom in the World report paints a bleak picture for the world’s democracies. Worse, the trend also applied to Latin America and the Caribbean.
The deterioration in relations between the two countries is worth noting as it reflects the Cold War-like atmosphere that is increasingly enveloping the Americas.
The World Bank released growth projections for Latin America and the Caribbean’s economies. The region’s outlook is positive but could waver if U.S.-China trade tensions re-escalate, among other risks.
Desde movimientos sociales que tomaron las calles, desastres naturales y cambios políticos, el 2019 fue tan solo el inicio de los eventos que marcarán el curso del continente hacia la siguiente década.
