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1 [1] (January 8, 2025)

handle is hein.crs/goverzd0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional Research Service Informing the IegisI9tive debate since 1914 Updated January 8, 2025 Cuba: U.S. Policy Overview Cuba is 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 funds to support access to information and promote democracy and respect for human rights in Cuba. Po tca and conom D eve opments Miguel Dfaz-Canel succeeded Radil Castro as president in 2018 and as head of the Cuban Communist Party (PCC) 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-the party's highest decisionmaking body-reflects the generational change in Cuban leadership that began in the early 2000s. While in power from 2008 to 2018, Rail Castro (who succeeded his brother, Fidel Castro, Cuba's leader from 1959 to 2008) relaxed restrictions on private economic activities, but his government's 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 Conditons Cuba has grappled with food, medicine, fuel, and energy shortages as its economy has struggled to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) reported that the Cuban economy contracted by 10.9% in 2020 and grew by less than 2% annually in 2021 and 2022, before again contracting by an estimated 1.9% and 2% in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Fuel oil shortages, a slow 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 have reportedly slowed recovery. In late 2024, Cuba's electrical grid experienced recurring collapses, causing prolonged nationwide blackouts that hindered the provision of basic services. 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. Increased Repression Cuba's already poor human rights situation has deteriorated since 2021. 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 employing short-term internet shutdowns and arbitrarily detaining some protesters. In November 2024, the Cuban attorney general's office announced that it had made several arrests after scattered demonstrations broke out in several provinces to protest power blackouts. The human rights group Prisoners Defenders reported that, as of November 2024, there were 1,148 political prisoners (up from 152 on July 1, 2021). Increased Cooperaton with China and Russia Amid Cuba's domestic challenges, the government has aimed to increase ties with China and Russia. The Biden Administration asserted that China has had an intelligence collection facility in Cuba since at least 2019, and a U.S. think tank identified four possible spy facilities using satellite imagery. At the same time, some analysts assess that Cuba's precarious economic situation may limit opportunities to deepen economic ties with China. Cuba also has strengthened diplomatic, commercial, and military ties with Russia. In June and July 2024, Russian warships visited Cuba, in part to conduct joint military drills. U. Po.icy Since the early 1960s, when President Kennedy imposed a congressionally authorized trade embargo on Cuba, U.S. policy has centered largely on 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 easing 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 increased sanctions, particularly on travel and remittances. In its initial months, the Biden Administration announced that 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

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