Trump rowing back on Cuban ties
- By Sajjad Malik
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E-mail China.org.cn, June 20, 2017
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US President Donald Trump holds up a memorandum he signed on the US/Cuba policy after he spoke at the Manuel Artime Theater in Miami, Florida on June 16, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua] |
The process of normalization was started by his predecessor in the Oval Office, Barack Obama, in 2009, when he lifted restrictions on family travel and the sending of remittances back to Cuba. However, it was not until 2015 that the two sides agreed to restore full diplomatic relations and reopen their embassies.
The following year, Mr. Obama visited Cuba, becoming the first American leader to do so in more than five decades.
While on the campaign trail last year, Mr. Trump assailed the Cuba policy of the Obama administration and pledged a rollback if elected. It was one of many promises he made to attract votes. Now, he is trying to fulfill these promises – although we already know what a struggle he is having to deliver on the commitments he made.
Mr. Obama’s Cuba policy was heavily criticized by human right groups and Cuban immigrants in the U.S. The main objection was based on the premise that there had been no fundamental change in the character and nature of the "iron rule" imposed by Fidel Castro that first prompted the United States to break ties and impose sanctions.
Those opposing Obama argued that he was completely ignoring the issue of human rights while taking unilateral positive steps to help end the Havana regime’s isolation. Thousands of Cubans living in America were furious at being totally ignored, as the U.S. government seemed to be putting commercial interests ahead of principles.
In his address on Friday, Mr. Trump once again denounced the Obama policies towards Cuba as a "one-sided deal" and told a cheering crowd that he was reintroducing certain travel and trade restrictions. Among the steps is a tightening of the rules about sending back money to Cuba.
The Cuban government has reacted angrily, denouncing any new curbs the current administration wanted to use to apparently punish the government of Rahul Castro. However, no specific reactive measures have emerged so far. Instead the Cuban government expressed willingness to cooperate with the United States.
However, in a sharp reference to past policy of U.S. leaders to forcibly change its government, Cuba also warned that resorting to any such measures would fail just as they had done in the past.
The crux is that, despite the Miami rhetoric, Mr. Trump cannot reverse a major initiative related to diplomatic ties. He may try to adjust some trade matters; however, the main policy is in place and the embassies are functioning. Tourism may not be badly hit by the new policies, as the commercial flights from the U.S. begun last August will continue.
And, perhaps the most important thing, is that American tourists can still return home laden with Cuban goods, including cigars much prized by smokers.
Obviously, the president is under a lot of pressure due to allegations of Russian links, and he is now seeking to rally popular support through populistic measures. He is also trying to reassure his supporters that he is keen to keep his election promises.
However, in his bid to boost support, the president will surely hurt the process of creating goodwill and building of trust between the U.S. and Cuba. His measures will likely force the Cuban government to rethink policy options if there is any further tightening of the noose.
Cuba is survival story of a tiny nation facing heavy odds. Since the revolutionary forces led by Fidel Castro overthrew the Batista government in 1959, it has faced embargos by the nation that is not just a military giant but the most powerful economy seeking to undermine the revolutionary government.
After reportedly hundreds of attempts to kill Castro and destroy his government by any means, the U.S. during Obama period realized how banal this policy had become and began to promote a thaw. Mr. Trump is apparently trying to get through old-fashioned arm-twisting tactics what his far more superior predecessors failed to achieve.
Sajjad Malik is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit:
http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/SajjadMalik.htm
Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
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