NEW LONDON — President Donald Trump changed The Obama Administration Cuba policy last Friday. The change includes commercial dealings that could possibly help the communist Castro regime. This could limit the freedoms of U.S. citizens traveling to Cuba, but leaves already implemented changes from Castro’s new President in place, Raúl Castro.
During the Presidents speech in Little Havana in the city of Miami, Florida. During the rally, Trump repeated that he hoped we can have a free Cuba at last.
A majority of the crowd was Cuban-American, but stood right next to Trump as he knocked Castro. Most of these Cuban-Americans are of older age, and have had negative opinions and “normalization” of the government that is communist in Cuba.
Trump long ripped these regimes’ communist overthrow of its people. Bringing up repression from past to present, he was clear that he did not like the things going on, so close to home, in Cuba.
- commercial dealings with Cuba’s military
- concern by the President since he thought the previous policy was helping their military
- concern by the President since he thought intelligence services by its former policy were helping the gain pn technology
Much of the Cuban military is in power because of civilian-run companies that can be owned by normal people whom drive up their economy. This comes from tourism to the country (note: Trumps wanting to limit American tourism to this Cuba).
Things That Might Not Change:
- “normalization” will not change 2014 Obama era policy, at this moment (updates as soon as possible)
- Unlimited “family” travel and money sent to private Cubans on the island will remain unchanged (it says it in the policy, but the enforcement doesn’t seem very forceful)
- In complete anonymity a WH official said, “no policy changes would go directly into effect“
“Administration officials who briefed reporters ahead of Trump’s address, on White House-imposed condition of anonymity, said no policy changes would go immediately into effect. Instead, the new presidential directive will order the Treasury and Commerce departments to begin within 30 days to write new regulations that reverse some of those Obama implemented to ease the U.S. embargo against Cuba that has remained in place for nearly 60 years. Only Congress can lift it” — Washington Post
There was some criticism to Trumps decisions to put restrictions on Cuba outside of his speech in Manuel Artime Theater. President and Head of Internal Affairs Myron Brilliant said “U.S. private-sector engagement can be a positive force for the kind of change we all wish to see in Cuba”.
He went on to say that the movies Trump pulled will not benefit Cuba in positive ways. Growth opportunities will diminish, and may also impact other countries that do not want to be a free and democratic society which does not respect human rights.
This was one of his campaign promises, and he pulled it off even if the policy isn’t that harsh. During the rally, (R-FLA.) Marco Rubio of Cuban descent decided to come and see what this speech was about. The President was also saying that any Hotels who have made deals with Cuban contracts “should expect to lose money”. But know the money you have already earned you can keep.
One company that’s going to be affected is Airbnb, who relies heavily to rent rooms for foreign visitors. Lets not forget, Americans will still be able to bring back unlimited amounts of rum and cigars!
“The officials said that the aging Cuban government, in which Castro is due to be replaced next year by a designated successor, can return to favor with the United States by improving its human rights record, including lifting restrictions on dissent, releasing political prisoners and moving toward democracy“
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