Game of Chess: Cuba vs United States. On October 22nd, 1960 The Economist released an article illuminating the inception of

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1 P a g e 1 Game of Chess: Cuba vs United States On October 22nd, 1960 The Economist released an article illuminating the inception of conflict between Cuba and the United States. The piece, On the Rocks, announces the United States prohibition of exports to Cuba- an embargo that was expected to last several weeks. Decades later, on March 22nd, 2016 another article hit the newsstands. This one, printed in The New York Times, was entitled Obama Visits Cuba. The time between the releases of either of these publications was riddled with political turmoil, economic instability, and- at least implicitly- personal grudge. Cuba s president, Fidel Castro, reigned over the island as nine different men sat as president in the United States. From generational shifts and ideological development, the relationship between the two nations has recently (finally) begun to normalize. In what could be compared to a half-century-long chess match, it appears that only now have both sides renounced the opportunity to checkmate. Trade between the United States and Cuba cannot be appropriately inspected without understanding the man behind the turmoil: Fidel Castro. Let s rewind to the fifty years from 1960 to 2010 to see where the chess match began. The year is 1959 when Fidel Castro and guerrilla fighters revolt against Cuba s former ruler Fulgencio Batista. One of seven siblings, Castro is intimidatingly outspoken, and equated to a biblical prophet and Island Robin Hood. During his studies at the Havana Law School, Castro finds himself increasingly defined by nationalistic philosophies and is quoted advocating for a representative democracy founded in social justice. But, even though Castro recognizes the United States as a neighbor with whom he wishes to share understanding and friendship, it takes less than one year until the US and Cuba officially break off diplomatic relations.

2 P a g e 2 The break could (at least partly) be attributed to Castro s belief that the United States CIA was involved in a series of plots against his life. Once in a position of power, he moves a pawn by signaling that his Cuba will decline aid from the US Government. His intention is for Cubans to take more control over their nation. So, in 1960, after nationalizing all foreign assets in Cuba, Castro hikes taxes on American imports, and- most jarringly- establishes trade deals with the Soviet Union, which is not on good grounds with the US. In retaliation and out of selfrespect, President Eisenhower slashes the import quota for Cuban sugar and freezes Cuban assets in the US. The embargo has two main effects on Cuba: it offends many Latin Americans and pushes Cuba further into the trench of the USSR. Weary of Castro s developing role as dictator, President Eisenhower authorizes the training of over 1,500 CIA trained paramilitary fighters to enter Cuba and overthrow Castro. The newly appointed President John F. Kennedy approves the move which becomes widely known as the Bay of Pigs. Dozens of trained Cuban exiles are killed and the rest are captured. This attack is only the beginning, though: throughout the 1960s, there are eight attempts to oust Fidel Castro. Then, in 1963, President Kennedy is assassinated. During a candid interview with Maria Shriver, Castro is asked whether he was involved in the assassination as a form of revenge for the CIA plots against his own life. I cannot answer that question... I thought it was an unfair death, he responds. The several years following provide a glimmer of hope in US-Cuba diplomatic relations. However, this hope is short lived. Despite President Carter s lapse on Cuban travel restrictions in 1977, there are a series of measures taken to tighten the US-Cuba trade embargo. Including President Reagan s 1982 travel ban and tightening of trade sanctions. The embargo was, by many, considered increasingly counterproductive. In fact, the foundation of the conflict that

3 P a g e 3 began the embargo was Cuba s increasingly cordial relationship with the USSR, which was supporting Cuba not only with economic aid, but also with weapons. The cordiality causes fear of nuclear strike on the western hemisphere which President Kennedy calls a proactive threat to world peace. As a result, communication between the US and the USSR develops; the removal of US missiles from Turkey is exchanged for a removal of USSR missiles from Cuba. These negotiations occur entirely separate from Castro. Though furious that he was cast aside in said negotiations, Castro recognizes that the US is a neighbor separated by only ninety miles of sea and sends good wishes to the Americans. In the late 1970s, his toughness begins to soften as he notices a generational shift in the people and the insufficiency of rigid state control. As a result, Castro allows Cubans to leave the country. The Mariel Boatlift in 1980 saw 125,000 Cubans flee from Cuba to America within months. Many Americans believed that Castro was emptying prisons and sending criminals to the US. Then, Castro closes the Mariel port to US boats. In turn, the US stops allowing Cuban immigrants to enter. Again, the US and Cuba are at a standstill- knights front and center. In the late 1980s, Cuba enters what Castro called Periodo Especial ( The Special Period ). Cuba loses 80% of its imports, and major staples of the Cuban economy are paralyzed. Then, in 1991, the USSR collapses. The economy that provided much of the architecture of the economy was now non-existent. During this time, the US halts trade with any business that has ties to Cuba. Companies were forced to choose: the US or Castro? Each step of the way, for five decades, Fidel Castro defies the United States. And, at every step, the United States is prepared with an advantage. Then, in 1999 President Clinton eases travel restrictions and encourages increased cultural exchanges between the nations. When Fidel Castro falls ill in 2006, he is succeeded by

4 P a g e 4 his brother, Raul Castro. Under Raul s regime, a handful of small scale private businesses are reinstated and conversation with President Obama is explored to reinstate US ties with Cuba. In 2013, at a memorial service for Nelson Mandela in South Africa, Obama and Raul Castro shake hands; the second of two recorded handshakes between the nations since It was regarded by many as a symbol of developing reconciliation. This followed the lifting of 2009 travel restrictions by a unanimous vote from the Organization of American States. With movement towards normalization seen as imperative, the US and Cuba began to mend the decades of battle. In 2014, President Obama calls for a reinstatement of full diplomatic relations with Cuba. Currently, several changes are set to continue to repair diplomatic and trade relations between the United States and Cuba. One focus will be on diminishing restrictions on the use of US dollars in international transactions dealing with Cuba. Many entrepreneurial products- such as telecom and construction equipment- will help Cuba s ability to run and profit from businesses. Commercial flights between the US and Cuba are set to fly in 2016 as well as the possibility of cruise ships. Negotiations and development between the US and Cuba have proven slow to start, however the unification of the two countries is becoming more of a possibility and less of a fantasy. Cuban officials will have to readjust to dealing with American government and US executives, as well as bureaucratic processes that involve interagency approaches. This adjustment could also stall progress; but, progress is surely under way. But, is progress between the nations in the best interest of either of them? Certainly, the US has mended fences with nations of similar political status and has even outsourced jobs to communist countries other than Cuba. If this isn t the US s first go around, then what will make

5 P a g e 5 the impact on whether or not this match is truly over. Perhaps the most important piece is time. Several decades of moving pieces, responses, and retaliations warrant a lengthy process as the two nations patch ways. Disagreement over political ideologies is not a feature unique to the relationship between the US and Cuba. What is unique to the relationship is the proximity. Cuba is only ninety miles from the US- practically visible from the Southernmost Point in Key West. What s more is that Cuba is an opportunity- economically, culturally, and diplomatically- for the US and vice versa. What will matter most are the leadership that follows Raul Castro and the leadership that follows Barack Obama. The US and Cuba have the potential to build upon one another. One thing is for sure: this chess game has lasted long enough.

6 P a g e 6 BIBLIOGRAPHY Council on Foreign Relations. Accessed May 04, Dominguez Jorge I., Hernandez Rafael, Barberia Lorena G. Debating U.S.-Cuban Relations: Shall We Play Ball? Routledge, Fidel: The Untold Story. Documentary. Estela Bravo Channel 4, Film. History.com Staff. "Fidel Castro." History.com Accessed May 04, Hufbauer, Gary Clyde., and Barbara Kotschwar. Economic Normalization with Cuba: A Roadmap for US Policymakers. Volume 103 of Policy Analyses in International Economics. Peterson Institute for International Economics, Morales Dominguez, Esteban and Prevost, Gary. United States-Cuban Relations: A Critical History. Lexington Books, "Obama Spends Almost 2 Hours With Cuban Dissidents". Nytimes.com. N.p., Web. 4 May Suddath, Claire. "U.S.-Cuba Relations." Time Accessed May 04, "U.S.-Cuba Relations: Plenty to Work on in 2016." Miamiherald. Accessed May 04,

Fulgencio Batista was the president of Cuba form 1933 to 1944, and after overthrowing the government, becomes the dictator of Cuba from 1952 to 1959.

The Where is Cuba? Fulgencio Batista was the president of Cuba form 1933 to 1944, and after overthrowing the government, becomes the dictator of Cuba from 1952 to 1959. Batista was a corrupt and repressive