Former Latin American Leaders Urge Joe Biden and U.S. Government to Change Stance on Cuba

Cuba has experienced a six-decade embargo from the United States government, which took effect since the Cold War. However, 18 former Latin American and Caribbean leaders have signed a letter addressed to U.S. President Joe Biden to lift that embargo.

The letter came as Cuba continues to struggle after the devastation brought about by Hurricane Ian. Parts of the country are still without electricity, while homes have been devastated or flooded.

The letter also urged the U.S. government to remove Cuba from its list of state governments sponsoring terrorism, as the ELN rebels that Cuba is said to be sponsoring are now in peace talks with Colombia, an American ally.

The Associated Press has obtained a copy of the letter and it reads, "We ask you, Mr. President, to take into account this dramatic situation that thousands of Cubans are experiencing and do whatever is necessary to lift those restrictions that affect the most vulnerable."

Former Brazilian, Colombian, Caribbean, and Other Latin American Presidents Signed Letter to Joe Biden

According to the Washington Post, several big names signed the letter, including former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff and former Colombian presidents Juan Manuel Santos and Ernesto Samper. Former leaders from other Latin American and Caribbean countries like Bolivia and Belize also signed the letter.

However, there was a notable absence of the signatories, as all of those who signed the letter were centrists or leftists. No right-wing leader has signed the letter, and this underscored the deep divisions that Cuba still invokes all over the Americas.

This week, the United Nations General Assembly will be voting on a resolution to condemn the U.S. embargo on Cuba. It is expected to pass again for the 30th consecutive year, according to ABC News.

The U.S. government imposed the trade embargo back in 1962 when Fidel Castro's Cuban Revolution embraced communism. This means that the United States restricted Cuba from gaining access to various products, as well as international aid and financial resources.

U.S.-Cuba Relations Easing With Democrats, Continue to Sour With Republicans

Under the Obama administration, U.S-Cuba relations began to thaw as the U.S. eased a few sanctions and provided a few friendly gestures toward the Caribbean Island. However, former President Donald Trump undid all his predecessor's gains in normalizing relations with Cuba.

Former president Donald Trump justified the sanctions against the Cuban government and re-designated the country as a state sponsor for terrorism for its refusal to extradite 10 ELN rebel leaders. These leaders have now left Cuba and are in Venezuela to hold peace talks with the Colombian government, resulting in the request to lift Cuba's status as a state sponsor of terrorism.

As for Biden, while he continues criticizing the Cuban government for its human rights abuses, he has also sought to thaw relations between the two countries. He recently made friendly gestures such as providing $2 million in Hurricane Ian relief.

However, lifting the embargo may not be easy, as this would require authorization from Congress.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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