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Relations between Cuba, USA and other Nations and their impact on one another

"The phrase “no man is an island” means that people need to be part of a community, and

do not do well when isolated. This phrase can be applied to the nation of Cuba, as it is a good

representation of the way Cuba affects the international community, and the way Cuba's past

events impact its future. To understand how this phrase relates, we must first understand how Cuba

interacts with the international, as well as what Cuba's past events were."

The United States-Cuba relationship has been associated with antagonism and lack of trust

since 1959, when Fidel Castro overturned a United Stated backed up ruling party in Havana and

formed a socialist state with the Soviet as the main comrade (Lee 14). The US identified Castro’s

government since but started imposing economic implications as the Castro’s ruling raised its

trading with the Soviet, nationalized American-owned assets and raised taxes on United States

imports. President John F. Kennedy instituted a ban on all United States exports and put on restrict

travel restrictions from Cuba. The Bay of Pigs invasion, an attempted CIA to overthrow Fidel

enhanced the lack of trust and nationalism and Cuba gave the Soviet the mandate to put nuclear

missile sites in the country in secret (Lee 14). In 1982, President Ronald Reagan branded Cuba as

a state terrorism sponsor for its support for militia groups in Africa and South America. President

Bill Clinton signed the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidary Act which strengthened the United

State sanctions and stated that the embargo will continue to be there until Cuba switches to a
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democratic governed nation which excludes Fidel and ensures freedom. The Cuban government

approximates that the United States trade restrictions cost the nation more than one hundred US

billion dollars since the beginning of the embargo (Lee 14).

President Obama after assuming office in 2008, tried a direct diplomatic approach with

Cuba which eased restrictions on travel, visitation of US citizens to Cuba for academic and

religious reasons and remittances. In the mean tie, the new Cuban authority had signaled a forum

for reformation. Some of the reformations included decentralization of the agricultural sector,

liberalization of real estate markets, removal of restrictions to travel overseas and expansion of

accessibility to consumer goods. Fidel and Barack surprised the international community in 2014

by making announcement that the two nations will bring back the complete diplomatic ties and

start to ease more than fifty years of bilateral tensions (Hershberg & William 67).

With the passing of Castro and the appointment of Trump in 2016 as the US president,

there was re-establishment of debates on the Cuba-USA policy. Trump was against Obama’s

administration for the improved relations with Cuba and pledged to reverse the relations once

appointed. However, Trump has left many of Barack’s policies in place including the diplomatic

associations. The main important changes President Trump has made is the prohibition of trade

with businesses possessed by the Cuban Military and a ban on personal travel to Cuba (Hershberg

& William 67).

Cuba’s foreign policy has been constant throughout history basing on the international

events, including its associations with USA. Cuba began isolated in the 1980s after the collapse of

its main partner, the Soviet Union. Since the fall of the USSR, has entered in bilateral co-

association with various South American countries, mostly Venezuela and Bolivia. Cuba
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interactions with the international community has greatly improved and is currently a lead nation

on the UN Human Rights (Krull 58),

In conclusion, the past events of Cuba on the international community especially USA, had

significant economic and social repercussions to the country. The Cuban government under the

leadership of Fidel Castro, saw the country lose $100 billion dollars in trade due to the conflict

and other consequences. This proves the phrase that “No man is an island” as Cuba isolation

proved to be costly to the nation.

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Works cited

Hershberg, Eric, and William M. LeoGrande, eds. A New Chapter in US-Cuba Relations: Social,

Political, and Economic Implications. Springer, 2016.

Krull, Catherine. Cuba in a global context: international relations, internationalism, and

transnationalism. University Press of Florida, 2014.

Lee, Brianna. "US-Cuba Relations." Council on Foreign Relations (2014).