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1 1 (April 4, 2024)

handle is hein.crs/goveoxn0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Con gressionol Research Service Informing the IegisIative debate since 1914 Updated April 4, 2024 Cuba: U.S. Policy Overview Cuba remains a one-party authoritarian state with a government that has sharply restricted freedoms of expression, association, assembly, and other basic human rights since shortly after the 1959 Cuban Revolution. Over the past six decades, U.S. policy has generally sought to isolate the Cuban government to promote change on the island and limit Cuba's ability to engage in malign activities abroad. Congress has played an active role in shaping U.S. policy toward Cuba, including by enacting legislation related to U.S. sanctions and appropriating funding to support access to information and promote democracy and human rights in Cuba. Pofical and Economk Developments Miguel Diaz-Canel succeeded Ratil Castro as president in 2018 and as head of the Cuban Communist Party (PCC) at its eighth party congress in 2021. Cuba's National Assembly elected Diaz-Canel to a second and final five- year presidential term in April 2023. The departure of Castro and other older leaders from the PCC's Politburo reflects the generational change in Cuban leadership that began in the early 2000s. While in power from 2006 to 2018, Ratil Castro (who succeeded his brother, longtime leader Fidel Castro) relaxed restrictions on private economic activities, but his government's slow, gradualist approach did not produce major economic improvements. Cuba adopted a new constitution in 2019 that introduced some reforms but maintained the state's dominance over the economy and the PCC's predominant political role. Socioeconomic Conditions The Cuban economy has yet to fully recover from the economic shutdown associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Cuba reported that the economy contracted by 10.9% in 2020 and grew by 1.3% and 2% in 2021 and 2022, respectively. The Cuban government estimated a contraction of 1%-2% in 2023. According to the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), Cuba's economic output will not return to its pre-pandemic level until after 2025. Recovery reportedly has been slowed by fuel oil shortages due to reduced imports from Venezuela, a slower-than-expected return of hard currency-wielding foreign tourists, hurricane damage, continuing distortions and inefficiencies in the centrally planned economy, and the effects of U.S. sanctions. A major importer of food, Cuba has struggled with declining agricultural production and rising global food prices, resulting in shortages and concerns about food insecurity. In late 2023, Cuba made an urgent request to the United Nations for additional food aid for children. Increased Repression Beginning in November 2020, the Cuban government cracked down on the San Isidro Movement (MSI), a civil society group opposed to restrictions on artistic expression. On July 11, 2021, anti-government demonstrations broke out in Havana and throughout the country, with thousands of Cubans protesting economic conditions (including food and medicine shortages and blackouts) and the lack of political freedoms. The government responded with harsh measures, including widespread detentions of protesters, civil society activists, and bystanders. Hundreds of the July 2021 protesters have been tried and convicted, and many others reportedly have been forced into exile. In response to renewed protests in March 2024, the Cuban government reportedly took some steps to address food shortages and power outages while implementing short-term internet shutdowns and arbitrarily detaining some protesters. The human rights group Prisoners Defenders reported that there were 1,067 political prisoners at the end of February 2024 (up from 152 on July 1, 2021). Increased Cooperauon with China and Russia Amid Cuba's domestic challenges, the country has sought to increase ties with China and Russia. The Biden Administration asserts that China has had an intelligence collection facility in Cuba since at least 2019. Some press reports suggest that Cuba and China have discussed additional security cooperation. Cuba also has strengthened its diplomatic and commercial ties with Russia. Among other reported agreements, Russia has pledged to deliver 32,000 barrels of oil and oil products per day to Cuba and Cuba has offered to provide 30-year land concessions to Russian firms in Cuba. US. Policy Since the early 1960s, when the United States imposed a trade embargo on Cuba, the centerpiece of U.S. policy toward the country has consisted of economic sanctions aimed at isolating the Cuban government. The Obama Administration initiated a policy shift away from sanctions and toward engagement and the normalization of relations. Policy changes included the rescission of Cuba's designation as a state sponsor of international terrorism (May 2015); the restoration of diplomatic relations (July 2015); and eased restrictions on travel, remittances, trade, telecommunications, and banking and financial services (2015-2016). The Trump Administration reversed course, introducing new sanctions in 2017, including restrictions on transactions with companies controlled by the Cuban military. By 2019, the Trump Administration had largely abandoned engagement and significantly increased sanctions, particularly on travel and remittances. In its initial months, the Biden Administration announced it was conducting a review of policy toward Cuba, with human rights as a core pillar. In the aftermath of the Cuban government's harsh response to the July 2021 protests, the Biden Administration criticized Cuba's repression and imposed targeted sanctions on those involved, including financial sanctions on three Cuban security entities and

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