US President visits Cuba: "Once in a century" cooperation opportunity

(Baonghean) - For 3 days from March 20, US President Barack Obama will make a historic visit to Cuba. The official visit to Cuba, the first by a US head of state since 1928, marks an important turning point after more than half a century of the two countries cutting off diplomatic relations. The visit is also a big step in the path to normalizing relations, opening up a series of new cooperation opportunities following the event of the two sides re-establishing relations on July 20 last year. Great opportunities but still many challenges. What do both sides need to do since this historic visit?

“Irreversible” process

To make this historic visit possible, the leaders of the United States and Cuba have taken a series of positive steps over the past time. First of all, the two countries have reopened embassies in each other's capitals.

US President Barack Obama is welcomed by Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez at the airport. Photo: AP

In specific areas, the US has eased travel restrictions for Cubans or allowed Cuba easier access to US financial institutions...

On the contrary, Cuba has announced the abolition of the 10% discount penalty imposed on the USD in cash exchange activities on Cuban territory...

President Barack Obama, his wife Michelle and daughters Malia and Sasha stop to visit a painting of President Abraham Lincoln at the Havana City Museum. Photo: Getty Images

It is undeniable that President Obama's visit to Cuba will open up many opportunities for economic cooperation for both sides, however, the visit may have more symbolic significance.

The first message that President Obama sent was to affirm that the normalization process between the two countries is "irreversible", aiming to close the Cold War past that is not beneficial to both sides.

Second, for President Obama personally, the visit will fulfill his wish to leave a lasting mark on the history of US-Cuba relations.

Third, the first appearance of a US President in Cuba in 88 years was like a breath of fresh air blowing into the entire Latin American region. This event was considered to open new chapters of cooperation with the countries there, and was also an important step for the US to reaffirm its position in the region, which was considered its backyard.

The road is long and full of thorns

The initial visit signaled success as never before had an American President been warmly welcomed in Cuba like this time, with countless billboards, posters, welcome signs, and pictures of President Obama and President Castro all over the streets of Havana.

However, the story that followed this visit is of particular interest to the public. The leaders of the United States and Cuba have admitted that there are still many issues to be resolved in the path of normalization between the two countries.

Cuban people hang American and Cuban flags to welcome the US President. Photo: AP

First of all, there is the economic embargo - one of the biggest disagreements between the US and Cuba today. Next is the US naval base in Guantanamo Bay or the US support for dissidents in Cuba...

Therefore, to be able to bring the two countries closer together, which are only separated by a small strait of 150 km wide, there will be a lot of work to worry about. The difficulty was shown right during the visit when Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez emphasized in a statement that the issue of political and economic reform would not be mentioned in the meeting between the two leaders.

Mr. Bruno also stated that Cuba will not abandon its own principles to accelerate the normalization of relations with the United States; at the same time, he acknowledged that the two countries still have major differences in political systems, democracy, human rights, or the application and interpretation of international law.

Meanwhile, on the US side, President Obama himself is facing pressure from the Republican Party, which opposes easing the embargo against Cuba.

Recently, Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan emphasized that the embargo will continue to be maintained despite President Obama's recent use of executive power to loosen trade and travel barriers with Cuba.

Meanwhile, the important presidential election in the US will take place at the end of this year. At that time, the policy towards Cuba will be truly defined under the leadership of a new owner of the White House.

Thus, difficulties are piling up, but it can be said that President Obama’s visit to Cuba this time has become a vivid symbol of the trend of cooperation and has a strong influence. The only question is how the two countries will seize this “once in a century” opportunity. That depends on the efforts and political determination of both sides in the coming time.

Khang Duy