In an exclusive interview with Carlos Fernández de Cossío, Cuba’s deputy minister of foreign affairs, we discussed the latest developments in U.S.-Cuban relations. The talks that took place in Washington last week focused on high-level migration between the two countries, and Fernández de Cossío shared his insights on the impact of U.S. policies on this issue.
According to him, while policies that expedite permanent residency for Cubans in the United States have had a significant impact on migration flows, it is still the enduring U.S. embargo on Cuba that remains the primary driver of migration. Fernández de Cossío explained that economic hardships faced by Cubans force them to seek better opportunities elsewhere, with U.S. policies aimed at undermining the Cuban economy exacerbating these conditions.
Furthermore, Fernández de Cossío touched upon other topics such as the upcoming 2024 election and potential policy continuities between the Trump and Biden administrations. He also shared Cuba’s stance on recent protests within the country addressing living conditions and other grievances.
Overall, our conversation shed light on the complex dynamics shaping U.S.-Cuban relations from migration policies to geopolitical conflicts and domestic challenges facing the island nation.
In conclusion, our discussion with Carlos Fernández de Cossío revealed that while there have been some changes in U.S.-Cuban relations since last year’s talks in Washington D.C., there are still significant challenges facing both countries due to ongoing economic hardships and political tensions between them. As such, it remains to be seen whether any lasting agreements will be reached anytime soon or if further conflict will continue to plague their relationship moving forward into 2024 and beyond.
However, one thing is clear: despite efforts by both sides to improve relations over recent years, progress has been slow due to deep-seated ideological differences and a lack of trust between leaders from both nations – factors that are likely to persist for years to come unless addressed head-on by all parties involved.
