The United States of America and the Republic of Cuba

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This analysis explores why decades of confrontation between the United States and Cuba have failed to achieve their objectives and argues for a more pragmatic approach based on shared interests, economic reform, and regional stability.

In our lead image: The Cuban and American flags on a building. Source: Facebook.

Miklos K. Radvanyi, vice president of the Frontiers of Freedom Institute provided an analysis for Gulyáságyú Média. / Radványi Miklós, az egyesült államokbeli republikánus think-tank, a Frontiers of Freedom Institute alelnöke angol nyelvű elemzése a Gulyáságyú Média számára.

You can find all of Miklos K. Radvanyi’s opinion pieces on this link. Radványi Miklós összes írását ezen a linken találja.

In the frequently convoluted maze of international relations, the time often comes when states must escape the prison of history. More than six decades after the Cuban so-called revolution that transformed the political landscape of the Caribbean, relations between the United States of America and the Republic of Cuba remain among the most enduring unresolved disputes in modern international affairs. While the Cold War that shaped the conflict ended more than thirty-five years ago, Washington, D.C. and Havana continue to conduct their relationship as if the ideological battle of the twentieth century were still being fought.

Six Decades of Strategic Stalemate

The result has been a policy stalemate that serves neither state particularly well and offers little hope to the Cuban people, who continue to bear the greatest burden of this enduring political confrontation. Today, the Republic of Cuba faces one of the most difficult periods of its recent history. Economic hardship has become a defining feature of daily life for many citizens. Inflation, shortages of food and medicine, deteriorating infrastructure, and recurring power outages have contributed to growing frustration across the island. At the same time, hundreds of thousands of Cubans have chosen to leave the country in search fof freedom and economic opportunity elsewhere, creating one of the largest migration waves in the nation’s history.

Understanding Cuba’s Crisis

The causes of Cuba’s crisis are complex and cannot be reduced to a single factor. The Cuban government’s extremely centralized economic system, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and the slow pace of attempted reforms have undoubtedly contributed to the country’s difficulties. Yet, it would be equally inaccurate to ignore the impact of decades of sanctions and restrictions, which have complicated Cuba’s access to international markets, investment, and finance. Unfortunately, political debate in both states often favors simplicity over reality. In Washington, D.C., some policymakers continue to argue that increased pressure will eventually force meaningful political change. In Havana, officials frequently point to external pressure as the principal explanation for domestic shortcomings. Both narratives contain elements of truth, but neither tells the whole story.

However, what is increasingly clear is that the current approach has only produced very limited success for either side. The United States of America has legitimate concerns regarding political freedoms, human rights, and democratic governance in the Republic of Cuba. These concerns should not be dismissed or minimized. At the same time, over six decades of isolation and economic pressure have not achieved the sweeping political transformation that many of their advocates once envisioned. Likewise, the Republic of Cuba’s leadership has succeeded in preserving its political system despite extraordinary external pressures. Yet, survival is not the same as success. Economic stagnation, demographic decline, and continued emigration suggest that maintaining the status quo carries significant long-term risks for the state’s future. The reality should encourage policymakers in both capitals to ask a simple question: if current policies have failed to achieve their primary objectives after more than sixty years, why assume they will suddenly succeed in the decades ahead?

Shared Interests Beyond Ideology

The challenge facing the Trump administration is to move beyond the choice of unconditional normalization and permanent confrontation. A more pragmatic approach should recognize that the United States of America and the Republic of Cuba share important interests despite their differences. Migration is one obvious example. Economic instability in the Republic of Cuba inevitably influences migration flows toward the United States of America and neighboring countries. Cooperative management of migration would benefit both governments and would certainly contribute to regional stability. The same principle would apply to disaster preparedness, environmental protection, public health, counter-narcotics operations, and maritime security. The United States of America and the Republic of Cuba are neighbors, separated by only ninety miles of water. Neither state can simply ignore the other.

A New Generation, A New Opportunity

There is also a generational dimension that deserves attention. Many of the political assumptions that shaped U.S.-Cuba policies in the past were formed during the height of the Cold War. Younger Americans and younger Cubans often view the relationship through a different lens. They are generally less invested in the ideological conflicts that dominated previous generations and more concerned with practical questions of economic opportunity, technological development, educational exchange, and quality of life. Moreover, for many young Cubans, the central issue is not choosing between capitalism and socialism. It is deciding whether they can build a future at home at all. For many young Americans, the Republic of Cuba is less a symbol of geopolitical rivalry than a neighboring society facing political and economic challenges that demand realistic solutions. These changing attitudes create an opportunity for a new conversation. Such a conversation should begin with humility. The United States of America should recognize that external pressure alone cannot engineer another nation’s political future. The Republic of Cuba should acknowledge that meaningful economic modernization and greater openness are essential if the state hopes to attract investment, retain talent, and improve living standards.

Initially, neither side must be forced to abandon its principles to pursue a more constructive relationship. The United States of America can continue pushing for human rights and the expansion of democratic values, while advocating for more practical cooperation. The Republic of Cuba can maintain its sovereignty while pursuing reforms that strengthen economic resilience and improve the political conditions of its citizens. The alternative is continued stagnation. More sanctions, more recriminations, more migration crises, and more lost opportunities would only extend a cycle that has already lasted for generations.

History matters, but it should not become a prison. The grievances are real. The wounds of the past cannot be ignored. Yet, foreign policy ultimately exists to solve present challenges and future possibilities. The 21st century presents both states with problems that neither ideology nor nostalgia can solve. After more than sixty years of confrontation, perhaps the most radical idea is also the simplest: that both nations should stop asking how to win and start asking how to build a relationship that serves the future.

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