There are indications the incoming Donald Trump administration in the US could be planning to reverse the attempts of rapprochement between the US and Cuba. On Monday, Trump named Mauricio Claver-Carone a leader of a pro-Cuba embargo organization in Washington, to his transition team.
Almost two years ago President Barack Obama announced plans to improve the almost 50 years of strained relationship with Cuba. Since then the two countries have re-established diplomatic relations, and categories of Americans have been permitted to visit Cuba on approved US flights.
Obama’s efforts at renewing relations with Cuba has been strongly supported by the Caribbean community. Caribbean leaders individually and through the regional group CARICOM, even before Obama’s announcement in December 2014, have established positive relations with the Cuban government, and Cuba is a participant in meetings of CARICOM.
However, there are opponents of Obama’s initiative. One of the staunchest and more persistent opponents is Claver-Carone. He’s executive director of the US-Cuba Democracy Political Action Committee (USCD PAC) and Cuba Democracy Advocates.
Supporters of the measures to improve relations with Cuba, including a possible lifting of the trade embargo between the US and Cuba, interprets Trumps appointment of Claver-Carone to his transition team as a sign that Obama’s efforts over the past two years could be thwarted when Trump takes office next year.
During the recent presidential campaign Trump made a special effort to court the large Cuban-American population residing in South Florida. A significant percentage of this community, mainly of senior age, who previously lived in Cuba during the Castro regime, are also opposed to Obama initiatives and supported Trump’s criticism of Obama’s initiative. Analysts believe that although an unusual high percentage of Florida Hispanics voted in the presidential elections, Trump received some 34 percent of this vote, interpreted as mainly Cuban-Americans, which played a pivotal role in him winning Florida.
During the campaign in Florida Trump said he would have negotiated a better deal with Cuba than Obama.
Hugh J. Lawson, lecturer and consultant on Miami consultant on Caribbean Affairs said, “Claver-Carone’s appointment makes it clear that Trump has intentions to pay attention to the recent developments that the Obama administration has put in place between Cuba and the US. I am not optimistic.
Claver-Carone has written op-eds in the Miami Herald criticizing Obama’s Cuban policy, and is particularly opposed to US businesses collaborating with businesses in Cuba.
