Foreign Policy Blogs

A busy week in Cuba

Photo: Sergio Barrenechea/EPA

Spending a week in Tuscany has its benefits, certainly, but without dependable Internet access and Western Hemisphere-centered news items, it seems I’ve missed a number of notable (and indeed, unusual/surprising/jaw-dropping) events in Cuba…

Here are a few of the ones I’m picking up in the airport now. What else have I missed?

Cuba indicates that it will free all its political prisoners

This is an extension of earlier promises and agreements over the last several week following discussions with Spanish officials and high-ranking members of the Catholic Church in Havana, which we discussed in an earlier post. EU countries will almost certainly respond with revision of the common position.

Fidel Castro Makes His First Visit Outside Cuba

Another follow-up, but also at a level unpredicted. Fidel had made a couple appearances recently, exponentially increasing his public presence since 2006, and we discussed them here and here.

Cuba watchers look for signals today

This is, in fact, today, and we’ll have an eye out as Raúl Castro gives his Revolution Day speech. Will Fidel be there, solidifying his renewed public presence and influence? Will Raúl publicly acknowledge the agreement Havana has made to release 52 (and possibly all 75) prisoners that have been detained since the 2003 “black spring” crackdown? [Last week the head of Cuba’s parliament, Ricardo Alarcón, went further then has yet been confirmed and said it was the government’s wish “to free all the people” on condition they had not been accused of murder.]

It would be nearly impossible for Washington not to respond to all this. The prospects are thrilling, though a recent Foreign Affairs piece that I have in hand (and is available for easy purchase online) by Laurie Garrett cautions about the unintended consequences of a quick and dirty lifting of the embargo in terms I had not before considered.

What else have I missed in this week?

(Photo: Sergio Barrenechea/EPA)

 

Author

Melissa Lockhart Fortner

Melissa Lockhart Fortner is Senior External Affairs Officer at the Pacific Council on International Policy in Los Angeles, having served previously as Senior Programs Officer for the Council. From 2007-2009, she held a research position at the University of Southern California (USC) School of International Relations, where she closely followed economic and political developments in Mexico and in Cuba, and analyzed broader Latin American trends. Her research considered the rise and relative successes of Latin American multinationals (multilatinas); economic, social and political changes in Central America since the civil wars in the region; and Wal-Mart’s role in Latin America, among other topics. Melissa is a graduate of Pomona College, and currently resides in Pasadena, California, with her husband, Jeff Fortner.

Follow her on Twitter @LockhartFortner.