A Useless and Anachronistic Measure

The embargo against Cuba should end.

Today, the United Nations General Assembly will discuss the economic and commercial blockade that the United States has been imposing on Cuba for half a century. Caribbean authorities will present a report that estimates that Washington has caused the loss of around 104 billion dollars.

In 1962, in the middle of the “Cold War,” U.S. President John F. Kennedy enacted an embargo that prevented companies in the U.S. from trading with Cuba. The White House was trying to put pressure on the Castro regime and force a political transition toward democracy.

Almost 50 years later, this measure has been a complete failure. Not only are the Castros still in power in Cuba, but the commercial siege has fed internal support of the communist dictatorship and is to blame for the precarious economic situation that Cubans are suffering. In fact, Havana describes the blockade as “development’s primary obstacle.”.

The rejection of Washington’s embargo against Cuba is widespread. This year will be the 20th consecutive occasion that the U.N. addresses the issue, and it will probably vote against the United States. In 2010, 187 of the 193 countries in the U.N. voted against the blockade, with three abstentions and two votes in favor of the current situation: the White House and Israel. Beyond confirming the global annoyance with this unnecessary isolation, these United Nations decisions do not have major consequences.

Barack Obama sent some signals of change in his politics toward Havana, such as the lifting of flight and shipment restrictions. Fidel Castro’s heir, his brother Raúl, has developed a series of economic liberalization initiatives, such as licenses for small businesses, cellular phone use and car sales. Nevertheless, the United States does not seem ready to soften its position toward Cuba, nor does Castro seem ready to pave the way to a greater democracy. On the contrary, the attacks against opposition groups, such as the Ladies in White, and against independent bloggers have intensified. Because it corresponds to an anachronistic international environment, and because it has failed completely to impose democracy on Cubans, the blockade against Cuba should end.