Biden Moves to Unwind Key Elements of Cruel and Ineffective US-Cuba Policy; Cuba Announces Release of Prisoners

In response to the announcement by the Biden administration will lift the state sponsor of terror designation from Cuba and take other steps to provide relief to the Cuban people from key U.S. restrictions, Center for International Policy senior non-resident fellow María José Espinosa issued the following statement:

“Steps like removing the state sponsor of terror designation on Cuba are welcome if long overdue moves to avoid deepening the humanitarian crisis on the island. Decades of bad Cuba policy are the poster child for what is wrong with the overuse of sanctions: the regime endures, ordinary people suffer and the United States’ reputation is tarnished around the world. The designation was little more than a cruel act of political theater. The work of the Vatican to facilitate the release of a substantial number of prisoners is also an extremely positive development, and an example of how coordinating with partners to engage with Cuba can achieve important results.”

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Statement on UN Vote Condemning US Embargo on Cuba

Today the UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to condemn the United States embargo on Cuba, with the U.S. and Israel as the lone opposing votes and Moldova abstaining. The 187-2-1 vote for the non-binding resolution is the thirty-second consecutive year in which the non-binding resolution was adopted by large margins. 

“Every year, the UN vote highlights that the U.S. is completely alone in its mission to punish the Cuban people as a means to an end,” said Center for International Policy senior non-resident fellow María José Espinosa.

Wednesday’s vote occurred at a moment where Cubans are facing one of the worst crises in decades, with brutal blackouts affecting more than 10 million Cubans amid an ongoing energy crisis, economic crisis and historic exodus.

This crisis presents urgency and opportunity to revive a policy of engagement. Espinosa continues:

As a policy, the U.S. embargo on Cuba is an epic failure. Cubans are no more empowered, no closer to achieving democracy than they were in February of 1962. Instead, the embargo has ensured Cubans face a daily struggle to meet their basic needs, without pushing the Cuban government toward political reform.

“The U.S. should abandon the failed regime-change-through-sanctions strategy and resume a normalization process focused on promoting economic freedoms, fostering open exchange, technological growth, and global market connections to create space for economic and democratic actors. This approach is not a concession to the Cuban government but a pragmatic strategy that aligns with the best interests of both the United States and the Cuban people.”

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Q&A: Will New Taxes & Restrictions Stifle Cuban Businesses?

This week, as Cuba implements new laws and regulations that impose new taxes, restrictions and requirements on the private sector, CIP senior non-resident fellow María José Espinosa Carillo offers her analysis of their implications on businesses in Cuba and for the country’s economy. In a Q&A with Latin America Advisor (a daily publication of The Dialogue), she explains:

“The stated aim of the new regulations is increased order over the private sector in Cuba, but they risk undermining private-sector growth—a necessary component of the country’s economic future. The mixed nature of the reforms—some offering protection for workers while others curtail entrepreneurial freedom—signals the Cuban government’s ongoing reluctance to fully embrace private enterprise as a driver of the country’s growth. Shifting regulations create uncertainty and distrust among entrepreneurs and potential investors, hindering investment and economic progress. The Cuban people are suffering an unprecedented multidimensional crisis. Over a million people have migrated since 2022, creating a massive brain drain–the effects of which we will see for decades to come.

Meanwhile, civil society organizations, entrepreneurs and community leaders are at the forefront of promoting community initiatives that generate employment and create social benefits such as social services for elderly and vulnerable populations. With an entrepreneurial solidarity spirit, they are building partnerships among themselves, as well as with state institutions, when possible.

We hope to see a more coherent regulatory framework that balances inequality stopgaps with the need for non-state sector growth and innovation. Increasing transparency, reducing barriers and fostering partnerships between state and non-state actors would help build confidence and stimulate investment, which the country so desperately needs. Further, the state must recognize the non-state sector and other civil society groups as legitimate actors. The government should send a clear message of support and encouragement to young entrepreneurs, who are currently looking anywhere but the island to build their futures. Lobbing confusing laws and repeatedly shifting regulations is no way to empower them.”

Read the original article here.

Q&A: How Would Harris Shape U.S.-Latin America Relations?

As Kamala Harris prepares to formally accept her party’s nomination at the Democratic Convention in Chicago, CIP senior non-resident fellow María José Espinosa Carillo discussed what a Harris presidency would mean for Latin America in a Q&A with Latin America Advisor (a daily publication of The Dialogue) explaining:

A Harris presidency could bring a renewed, forward-looking vision for U.S. relations with the Americas, focusing on contemporary issues critical to the region. Her track record as vice president, senator and California’s attorney general, particularly her commitment to justice and human rights, aligns closely with the challenges facing Latin America and the Caribbean—a region deeply intertwined with U.S. interests.

In migration policy, the focus will likely be on promoting regional cooperation, as demonstrated by the Biden-Harris administration through the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection. This framework has already facilitated regional collaboration on migration management. Given the strain on resources and infrastructure caused by unprecedented migration flows in the Americas, a Harris presidency will need to capitalize on and expand these efforts to strengthen stabilization and integration of migrants and asylum seekers across the continent.

Harris’ approach to U.S. leadership emphasizes close collaboration with allies and partners, actively listening to their needs and working together on solutions. This is evident in her unprecedented work with Caribbean nations, particularly on climate action. Her commitment to addressing the climate crisis aligns with the region’s pressing needs, where climate change threatens agriculture, infrastructure and coastal communities. Her leadership, including historic investments in climate initiatives, could drive collaboration on renewable energy, conservation and sustainable development, aligning U.S. policies with regional efforts.

As women’s rights become central to policy and female politicians break the mold in Latin America, a Harris presidency would continue to advocate for these rights, including access to abortion, health care, combating gender-based violence and promoting women’s economic empowerment.

Read the original article here.