Cuba and U.S. Foreign Policy

This paper will discuss the trends which have driven the foreign policy of the United States towards Cuba. The main emphasis of discussion will be the changes in policy which have taken place during the administration of President Bill Clinton. However, the first part of the paper will briefly discuss the origins of the policy during the Cold War.

The foreign policy of the United States towards Cuba has changed little since 1961. U.S. leaders have felt that Cuba was a "special case" in terms of foreign policy ever since U.S. military force ended Spain's control over the island in 1898. Until 1934, U.S. law permitted intervention in Cuban affairs; after 1934, U.S. capital controlled most of the Cuban economy. The revolution led by Fidel Castro in 1959 tapped into strong anti-American sentiments held by most Cubans, who resented American "imperialism." The final blow to American influence on the island came when Castro publicly declared himself, and Cuba, to be communist. In January 1961, the United States government severed diplomatic ties with the island and in April of that year supported an unsuccessful invasion by expatriate Cubans. In October 1962, the U.S. instituted a naval blockade of Cuba to force the Soviet Union to withdraw nuclear weapons from the island. (Spanier, 1983, pp. 110-112).

U.S. foreign policy towards Cuba after 1961 was largely the result of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union. During

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the Act. In addition, State Department officials have stated that the provisions of the Libertad Act have caused foreign companies to take greater time and care when considering investments in Cuba to ensure that U.S. property interests are not affected. These officials have also admitted, however, that these two measures have triggered complaints from U.S. trading partners and even litigation by the European Union in the World Trade Organization (WTO). (Ranneberger, 1997). Like previous administrations, that led by Bill Clinton has asserted that real change in Cuba must be brought about by the Cuban people. This can only happen when the people can no longer tolerate the economic, social, and political conditions in the country. In order to facilitate such change, the Clinton administration and its predecessors have sought to increase the flow of information to, from and within Cuba. In order to accomplish this goal, Clinton began allowing groups within the U.S. to develop new contacts on the island and began licensing dozens of trips, programs and other activities by nongovermental organizations (NGOs) and institutions in the U.S. aimed at establishing positive working relationships with counterparts in Cuba. (Ranneberg

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