Fidel Castro’s death fails to make a difference in U.S.-Cuban relations

According to the Council on Foreign Relations, business transactions between the US and Cuba have increased 30 percent since 2014. The trend is very positive between the US and Cuba, however, some believe the death of Fidel Castro could strain relations. Castro’s death will have little to no effect on US-Cuban relations.

Cuba’s communist revolutionary leader Fidel Castro died Nov. 25th, 2016. The Cuban politician was the Prime Minister from 1959-1976, and the President of Cuba from 1976-2008. Castro was well known for imprisoning and executing his political opponents. He is often blamed for Cuba’s high poverty levels, as over 15 percent of the country’s population is below the poverty line. Castro’s reputation is negative amongst most Americans.

Senior Griffey Nelson said, “From what I’ve heard about Castro, both from the media and from people around me, is a real sense of hate for both Castro and his communist regime.”

Many Cuban exiles now living in America, especially Miami, celebrated the death of Castro openly in the streets. Colin Kaepernick was booed severely at a Miami Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers game for wearing a pro-Castro shirt.

Fidel Castro’s death will not add any strain on US-Cuban relations.  Former US Administrations have been politically isolating Cuba.  However, in recent years the two countries have made steps towards more involvement with each other.  For example, in April 2015 Cuban President Raul Castro and President Barack Obama gathered in Panama.  This meeting was the first time since 1961 that the leaders of the two countries have met face-to-face.  Additionally, in March 2016 Obama visited Cuba marking the first time a US President has visited the country in 85 years.

The growing strength and trust of these relations are largely based on prisoner swaps. The US managed to free 53 political dissidents from Cuba in Jan. of 2015.  Also, each country has opened embassies in one another’s capital. Obama picked Jeffery Delaurentis, who had been the chief diplomat in Havana since 2014, to be the US ambassador to Cuba

Junior Joe Hesse Withbroe said, “If both governments treat Castro’s death with respect I see no way that any serious damage could be done to our relationship with Cuba.”

Castro has not been in power since 2008. His death should have little to no impact on the Cuban government and consequently little to no impact on our relations with Cuba. The election of Donald Trump will most likely have a much greater impact on US and Cuba relations than the death of Fidel Castro.

Hesse-Withbroe said, “Personally, I am more fearful for the power shift on the American side after this recent election and the effect it could have on foreign relations.”

It is unlikely that the embargo placed on Cuba by the US will be lifted anytime soon. Even with the embargo in place, the US is still Cuba’s fifth largest trading partner.  President George W. Bush is responsible for most of this trade by reauthorizing the export of agricultural products to Cuba in 2003.

According to the Council on Foreign Relations, in 2015 the US doubled its annual funds sent back to Cuba to a total of $1.4 billion. The Department of Commerce also approved for $4.3 billion worth of business transactions between the two countries. There is a general trend towards greater US ties with Cuba and Castro’s death will have little to no impact on that.  Progress may be halted for a very short while but in the long run, we will not see a serious impact.

The death of Fidel Castro and the election of Donald Trump will not have a large impact on relations between the US and Cuba. The trend has been so direct towards more political and economic ties that it would take serious setbacks to change anything. American citizens and government do not need to do change what we are doing to continue to strengthen relations in the wake of Castro’s death.