The US and Cuba have agreed to restore diplomatic relations, in a move to bring an end tomore than half a century of estrangement between the two countries. The Cubangovernment set free a U.S. contractor who had been charged with illegally importingcommunications equipment. The U.S. released five Cuban agents who had beenimprisoned in U.S. jails for 16 years. What does this improving US-Cuba relationshipmean?
All the US efforts to overthrow the Communist regime of Cuba were in vain. The U.S. hastaken a hostile attitude to Cuba since the victory of the Cuban Revolution in 1959. The U.S.also severed its diplomatic relations with Cuba in 1961. In 1962, the U.S. slapped a tradeembargo on Cuba, which has now lasted for more than 50 years.
The blockade and sanctions on Cuba implemented by the U.S. caused huge losses to theU.S. as well as to Cuba. It sealed off the Cuban market to US companies, and underminedUS influence in Latin America.
The U.S. is now attempting to improve its relations with Latin America. It announced thatthe era of Monroeism had ended last year, which helped to ease US-Cuba relations. In atelevised address, US president Barak Obama said that US policy towards Cuba wasestranging the US from Latin American countries and limiting US influence.
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