raharris1973
Well-known member
What if the USA normalized trade and diplomatic relations with Cuba in the 1990s (similar to China), abandoning sanctions as a relic of the Cold War, and dropping Cuba from terrorist and other 'naughty' lists as the various proxy wars that pitted the USA and Cuba against each other (Nicaragua, El Salvador, Angola) got settled in the early part of that decade? The US doesn't offer unvarnished 'friendship' to Cuba and will criticize human rights violations and lack of democratic openness, but it is as open to Americans doing trade, travel, investment, and diplomatic exchange with Cuba, as it was to doing so with China and Russia at that time, and open to going further pending positive developments or reciprocation from Havana.
How would the political and economic system of Cuba evolve differently from OTL, if at all?
What additional resources would the Cuban economy, people, and state have at its disposal?
Would the US-Cuban political relationship and orientation in terms of adversary versus neighbor versus indifferent cohabitant versus occasional partner versus friend change?
How would Cuba's orientation towards Russia, China, Iran, Venezuela and North Korea be in the 21st century and 2020s in particular? Would they be seen as any less 'natural' partners, friends, or in the case of Russia or China, countries worth inviting for military or intel visits, than in OTL?
How would the politics of the Cuban-American community evolve? Would its power divide more evenly between pro and anti engagement factions? Without the anti-engagement side having the status quo and single-issue passion on their wholly on their side like OTL, and a distinctive US sanctions and embargo policy, would a 'Cuban-American' foreign policy position and community be politically distinctive anymore? Or would Cuban-Americans largely be difficult to politically differentiate from most other American ethnicities who have other demographic or ideological factors in common?
How would the political and economic system of Cuba evolve differently from OTL, if at all?
What additional resources would the Cuban economy, people, and state have at its disposal?
Would the US-Cuban political relationship and orientation in terms of adversary versus neighbor versus indifferent cohabitant versus occasional partner versus friend change?
How would Cuba's orientation towards Russia, China, Iran, Venezuela and North Korea be in the 21st century and 2020s in particular? Would they be seen as any less 'natural' partners, friends, or in the case of Russia or China, countries worth inviting for military or intel visits, than in OTL?
How would the politics of the Cuban-American community evolve? Would its power divide more evenly between pro and anti engagement factions? Without the anti-engagement side having the status quo and single-issue passion on their wholly on their side like OTL, and a distinctive US sanctions and embargo policy, would a 'Cuban-American' foreign policy position and community be politically distinctive anymore? Or would Cuban-Americans largely be difficult to politically differentiate from most other American ethnicities who have other demographic or ideological factors in common?