CUBA TODAY By: Natalie Seaner

Fidel Castro Breaks Ties With US & Sides With Soviet Union ◦ The United States first befriended Cuba, when it appeared that Cuba was going to be democratic. ◦ In just a few months Castro captured political opponents and sent hundreds of people to jail, much like the Soviet Union. ◦ Castro denied support for Cuba's 1952 military pact with the US and established collective farms, again, much like the Soviet Union.

Fidel Castro Breaks Ties With US & Sides With Soviet Union Part 2 ◦ The United States broke our ties with Cuba on January 3rd, ◦ Castro announced his alliance with the Soviet Union. ◦ This caused thousands of Cubans to flee the country.

Bay of Pigs Fiasco ◦ In 1961 a United States supported group of former Cubans invaded Cuba. ◦ This was during the Eisenhower administration ◦ This was given the OK by President JFK ◦ He refused to give US air support.

Result of Bay Pigs Fiasco ◦ The landing at the Bay of Pigs on April 17, 1961, was a disaster. ◦ The invaders did not receive Cuban support and were easily repelled by the Cuban military.

Soviet Missile Crisis ◦ The Soviets attempted to install medium-range missiles in Cuba. ◦ This instigated a crisis in ◦ President Kennedy stated that a U.S blockade will be enforced to stop the missile delivery. ◦ Six days later, Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev ordered the missile sites destroyed and returned to the USSR in return for the US to promise not to attack Cuba. ◦ The US enacted limited diplomatic ties with Cuba on September 1st, ◦ This made it easier for Cuban Americans to visit. ◦ Castro opened the port of Mariel to a “freedom flotilla” of boats from the US. ◦ This allowed over 125,000 Cubans to flee to Miami. ◦ They were mostly prisoners, mental patients, homosexual and others unwanted by the Cuban Government.

Soviet Missile Crisis ◦ Castro opened the port of Mariel to a “freedom flotilla” of boats from the US. ◦ This allowed over 125,000 Cubans to flee to Miami. ◦ They were mostly prisoners, mental patients, homosexual and others unwanted by the Cuban Government. ◦ Russia had supported Cuba's failing economy for years, when communism failed in Europe, Russia stopped it support. ◦ Cuba entered a severe economic crisis after its foreign trade industry also failed. ◦ The US also enforced its embargo with the Helms-Burton Act

Castro to Retire ◦ 81 years old, Castro stated publicly that he was not healthy enough to campaign in the upcoming elections. ◦ He has not been officially withdrawn from the race. ◦ In 2008 Castro was meeting with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil, he told the President that he felt very well.

Castro to Retire ◦ During the Janruary 2008 elections, Fidel and Raul Castro were re-elected to the National Assembly. ◦ In February 2008, Fidel finally announced that he would not take another term as president. ◦ Raul Castro (Fidels brother) is now the president of Cuba.

Slight Changes ◦ At the UN in 2008, Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque signed the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. ◦ These protect citizens’ political and civil freedom, also they guarantee the right to work, fair wages, social security, education, and high standards of physical and mental health. ◦ Roque also said that in 2009 the UN will be allowed to explore Cuba.

Slight Changes ◦ The US congress voted in 2009 to cancel the restrictions on Cuban-Americans visiting Havana and sending money into the country. ◦ President Obama agreed to allow more interaction with Cuba. ◦ Castro announced in July 2010 that he will release the 52 political prisoners being held there since ◦ Castro stated that the activists were “Mercenaries acting at the request of the US.”

Slight Changes ◦ In 2011 Jose Ramon Machado was appointed to the second- highest position in the Cuban Government. ◦ This is the first time in 50 years that a Castro brother has not ruled that position. ◦ This happened at the party's first congress in 14 years. ◦ In 2011 buying and selling cars became legal, Cubans are now able to go into business for themselves, only with an approved job. ◦ The government allowed real estate to be bought and sold for the first time since the revolution. ◦ A new law went into affect that states that Cubans can only have one house in the city and one in the country. ◦ It also requires that all real estate transactions be made through Cuban bank accounts.

Slight Changes ◦ In 2011, more than 2,900 prisoners were released. ◦ 86 of these prisoners were foreign. ◦ Alan Gross, an American sentenced to 15 years for selling satellite telephone equipment, was not released.

Pope Visits Cuba ◦ On March 26 th, 2012 Pope Benedict XVI visited Cuba. ◦ This was the first time in 14 years that the pope has visited. ◦ The last visit was by Pope John Paul II ◦ The pope believed that Cuba was moving towards freedom and looking to the future. ◦ Over 200,000 attended the Mass, one man was removed from the crowd after he started shouting comments about the government.

New Policy ◦ In 2012, it was announced that Cubans would no longer need to have an exit visa when leaving the country, this was to start in ◦ This was allowed by President Raul Castro in 2011 to put the eager citizens at ease. ◦ Cubans could leave the country on vacation or forever ◦ The only things they would need are a valid passport and a visa from the country they want to travel to. ◦ The policy also said that people could be stopped from leaving for “defense and national security reasons.”

Back to Diplomatic Relations ◦ On December 17 th, 2014 Alan Gross was released after 5 years in a Cuban Prison. ◦ In response, Obama said that the US will resume “full diplomatic relations with Cuba.” ◦ This is the first time we will have diplomatic relations with Cuba in over 18 years. ◦ Canada hosted most of the talks and Pope Francis hosted a meeting at the Vatican.

Good or Bad? ◦ The situation with Cuba wasn’t working. The US wanted the isolation to help Cuba become more free. ◦ I think that this is a good thing. Many good things come out of us negotiating with Cuba, for example: ◦ The U.S. will most likely ease travel restrictions whish will make it easier for Cuban-Americans to visit relatives. ◦ Business transactions will be easier ◦ and Cubans will be able to communicate more easily with people around the world, which will, hopefully, allow them to become more free.