More strength in the process of normalizing US-Cuba relations
The event of Cuban President Raul Castro's visit to the US to attend the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit attracted international attention because this was the first visit to the US by a Cuban leader in 56 years, further affirming the trend of reconciliation between the two former Cold War enemies.
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| Cuban President Raul Castro at the United Nations on September 27. (Source: AFP/TTXVN) |
Referring to a United Nations resolution calling for an end to the decades-long embargo against Cuba, he stressed: "Such a policy, which is opposed by 188 United Nations member states, must be lifted."
Analysts say Cuba and the US are working together to close a dark chapter in the history of bilateral relations, continuing positive developments after US President Barack Obama and President Raul Castro reached an agreement to normalize diplomatic relations in December 2014.
The two countries have quickly implemented a series of steps to speed up this process. The US and Cuba have conducted four rounds of negotiations in the capitals of the two countries, with progress on many important issues.
In mid-July, Washington and Havana officially opened embassies in each other’s countries. The US has also gradually removed barriers to trade relations between the two countries, such as easing travel and trade restrictions, helping to open up new areas of bilateral cooperation.
Just ahead of President Castro's visit, the Obama administration announced it was considering abstaining from voting on the annual United Nations resolution criticizing the embargo against Cuba.
This is unprecedented in the history of relations between the two countries. If the vote is abstained, this will be the first time the Washington administration does not oppose a resolution directly criticizing and demanding an end to the embargo imposed by the United States against Cuba 54 years ago, pushing the US Congress into a confrontation with the Obama administration and the rest of the world.
It can be said that the embargo is the last barrier in the process of normalizing US-Cuba relations. Over the past half century, the "wall" that the US built to isolate Cuba from the outside world has caused enormous damage to Havana.
The US blockade has caused more than $1 trillion in damage to the Caribbean island nation. However, despite the resistance and pressure of the embargo, Cuba has remained steadfast and continued to develop.
Meanwhile, the United States itself has paid a heavy price for the embargo. American companies have lost billions of dollars because they cannot do business with Cuba, not to mention the great business opportunities in this beautiful island nation in the future, especially in the oil and gas sector.
In addition, politically, the embargo against Cuba has also caused Washington to lose its position in the region once considered America's "backyard", and is the biggest obstacle on the path to improving relations between the US and Latin American countries.
Therefore, lifting this unreasonable embargo is inevitable to close a dark chapter in the history of US-Cuba relations, bringing benefits to both countries.
Despite differences on a number of issues, the leaders of the two former Cold War enemies share a common understanding that in today's international relations, the trend of confrontation has become outdated and needs to be replaced by a trend of reconciliation to bring benefits to the people of each country, instead of serving the political will of a group of conservative politicians in major countries.
The Obama administration's practical efforts and suggestive statements on the embargo on Cuba and the first presence of a Havana leader in the enemy country in more than half a century have affirmed this inevitable trend./.
According to Vietnam+
