A recent series of attacks on American personnel in Cuba has left officials in both countries confused. As investigations into the origins of the mysterious symptoms that have affected 21 members of the U.S. intelligence and diplomatic corps continue, there have already been implications for relations between the two countries. Last week, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson announced that about half of the embassy’s staff would be recalled. In an interview with BBC, Michael Shifter discussed the attacks and the effect they may have on U.S.-Cuba relations moving forward.
The U.S. State Department in early October expelled 15 Cuban diplomats in protest of what it said was Cuba’s failure to protect American envoys in Havana from a series of mysterious attacks that caused hearing loss and other ailments. What do the decisions to expel and withdraw diplomatic staff indicate about the future of U.S.-Cuban relations?
Ultimately it is the Cuban government itself that will determine whether Cubans’ hopes and ambitions are met. The current deterioration in diplomatic relations is likely to strengthen those in both the United States and Cuba who favor the familiar comfort of a static Cold War antagonism over the rising expectations generated by a new US-Cuba dynamic.
Margaret Myers, Directora del Programa de Latinoamérica y el Mundo, opina sobre la alianza de Venezuela con China y lo que significa esta para el panorama venezolano.
On November 10, the Inter-American Dialogue hosted a debate about the future of US-Cuba relations featuring Emily Mendrala, Michael Bustamante, and Jorge I. Dominguez, with Michael Camilleri moderating the discussion.
A year following the death of Cuban leader Fidel Castro, the relationship between the U.S. and the island nation has dramatically changed. To discuss this and more, President of the Inter-American Dialogue, Michael Shifter spoke with CGTN’s Susan Roberts.
In this interview with BBC World News, Michael Shifter discusses the current state of relations between the US and the island nation, what we know so far regarding the sonic attacks to US diplomats in Havana, and what we can expect after the 2018 change of leadership if Cuba.
No pueden ignorarse los efectos corrosivos que la presidencia de Trump está teniendo sobre la democracia estadounidense y sus normas de tolerancia y civilidad. La única pregunta es cuánto daño habrá hecho Trump antes de que alguien lo frene, y si será posible repararlo.
On January 30, the Inter-American Dialogue and International Monetary Fund (IMF) hosted an event to discuss the findings of a recently published book, Unleashing Growth and Strengthening Resilience in the Caribbean (November 2017). This event was moderated by Manuel Orozco with panelists Joyce Wong, Sebastian Acevedo and Daniel P. Erikson. The panel discussed the roles that structural transformation, natural disasters, and fiscal policy have on unleashing future growth in the region.
On February 22, the Inter-American Dialogue in partnership with the Brookings Institution’s Latin American Initiative hosted an event to discuss the political and economic challenges Cuba will face amidst a presidential transition. This event was moderated by Michael Shifter with panelists Richard Feinberg from the Brookings Institution and William LeoGrande from American University.
El presidente Donald Trump participará en la Cumbre de las Américas en Perú el 13 y 14 de abril. Después viajará a Colombia, en una visita que según la Casa Blanca resalta el compromiso del mandatario con la región. Juan Carlos López de CNN en Español analiza esta agenda con Michael Shifter.
La izquierda y el fervor religioso se hacen un lugar en medio de los históricos récords de impopularidad de los mandatarios salientes este año: Santos, Temer, Peña Nieto, Cartes y Solís, quienes difícilmente superan el 20 por ciento de aprobación a su gestión. Michael Shifter analiza en esta entrevista con Semana este incierto panorama político de 2018.
Although perhaps justified by the tragic events in Syria, President Trump’s last-minute decision to skip the eighth Summit of the Americas, which begins this week in Lima, Peru, was discouraging to his Latin American and Caribbean counterparts.
Cuba has a new head of state in President Miguel Díaz-Canel. However, the residual power of the revolutionary generation means the rejuvenation of the island’s political elite is only getting started.
Ricardo Barrios
Articles & Op-Eds ˙
˙ Australian Institute of International Affairs
