The United States and Cuba - From confrontation to cooperation?

The article focuses on relations between the USA and Cuba in the 1990s and examines the possibilities for a rapprochement between the two countries. The 1990s were characterised not only by a tough confrontational line betwe en the USA and Cuba but also by some successful attempts at cooperation bet ween the two governments. The confrontational policy during the 1990s was maintained as a result of t he influence of hardliners in both countries. In the USA, members of Congre ss and Cuban-American organisations were able to use strategic opportunitie s to push through new legislation that tightened the embargo. And in Cuba, a hard-line position resulted in the shooting down of two US civilian plane s in February 1996. However, there have also been a number of successful cooperation attempts, such as migration accords and an agreement to combat drug trafficking. Thes e developments indicate that the two governments are willing to cooperate o n issues considered important by both. The largest barrier to enhanced cooperation is the persistence of the embar go. The first signs of a softening of the embargo came in the beginning of January 1999, when President Clinton endorsed several measures, like establ ishing direct flights, increase of money transfers to private persons and o rganisations and humanitarian aid. There is now a growing momentum in the U S Congress to lift the ban on sales of food and medicine to Cuba. Recent developments in the USA indicate that an important shift is taking p lace with regard to the policy on Cuba. Emphasis is moving away from Cuban- American organisations towards trade and agricultural interests. This may p rovide impetus for a gradual lifting of the sanctions.