Listen to the PodcastOn October 19, 1960, U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower authorized an embargo on exports to socialist Cuba, setting in motion an uneasy political relation that lasted more than 50 years. Diplomatic relations with Cuba were severed in January 1961. A travel ban and an expanded export ban went into effect in subsequent years. All this in an attempt to put pressure on Fidel Castro and weaken his rule. Despite these efforts, Castro outlasted 10 U.S. presidents and was in power for more than 50 years before stepping down in 2008.
The economic and travel bans were softened in late 2014, and President Barack Obama officially reestablished diplomatic relations with Cuba on July 20, 2015, ushering in a new era of U.S.-Cuba relations. What is the impact of these changes in policy towards Cuba? How might this effect the economies of both countries?And how does the U.S. opening up relations with Cuba impact U.S. relations with Latin America more broadly?
Join us, the Cleveland Council on World Affairs, IPM, and the Northeast Ohio Consortium for Middle Eastern Studies for a conversation on the implications of an open Cuba.
