The U.S. and Cuba have advanced key areas in which bilateral relations will be normalised.

President Barack Obama of the United States of America (U.S.A.) while announcing the decision to normalise relations with Cuba on December 17, 2014 said, “Five and a half decades of history show us that such belligerence inhibits better judgment,” and added that,  “Two wrongs never make a right. This is a game-changer, which I fully support.” He further said, “These 50 years have shown that isolation has not worked. It’s time for a new approach,” The New York Times reported.  

In response, the President of Cuba Raul Castro said, “Ever since my election, I have reiterated on many occasions our preparedness to hold a respectful dialogue with the government of the United States of America based on sovereign equality.” The declarations of the two Heads of State was the first step in normalising Cuba-US relations that went sour since 1960.

Diplomatic Relations

Barack Obama announced that the U.S. was looking to open an embassy in the Cuban capital, Havana in the coming months to be subsequently followed by the appointment of an ambassador. The U.S-Cuba relations got frozen in 1960 after Cuba nationalised U.S. businesses without compensation. The immediate U.S. reaction was to break off diplomatic relations with Cuba followed by the putting in place of a trade embargo.

Economic Embargo

The Cuban President Raul Castro speaking in the capital, Havana, urged the U.S. to lift a trade and economic embargo imposed on the country in 1960. Mr Obama on his part, said he will allow greater banking ties, making it possible to use credit and debit cards in Cuba, and American travelers will be allowed to import up to 400 U.S. Dollars worth of goods from Cuba, including up to 100 U.S. Dollars in tobacco and alcohol products.

The U.S. also plans to ease travel restrictions for family visits, public performances, and professional, educational and religious activities. The U.S. will equally allow exports in certain building materials for residential construction, goods used by entrepreneurs and agricultural equipment. With regard to lifting the trade embargo, the President is empowered to take some measures, while others have to be passed by Congress.

Cuba Designation

The United States of America will have to review its designation of Cuba as one of the States that sponsors terrorism. The New York Times said President Obama has instructed Secretary of State John Kerry to begin the process of removing Cuba from the list of States that sponsor terrorism, a process ordered to take place for six months and a report submitted to the President.

This will pave the way for more recognition of Cuba and guarantee high-level visits by senior government officials. Reports say, Barack Obama has announced that he would attend a regional Summit of the Americas next spring also to be attended by the Cuban leader. He is also said to be planning to send an Assistant Secretary of State to Havana the coming month to talk about migration, and Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker may lead a commercial mission.

Telecommunications Links

Increasing telecommunications links falls among the plans contained in the White House statement on readiness to normalise relations.  This implies that the US will help Cubans have access to the World Wide Web. It will be attained through the implementation of the new U.S. policy which will authorise the commercial export of communications devices, software, hardware and provision of internet services.