Castro has every reason not to trust the designs and motivations of the United States. After all, the United States orchestrated unconventional operations that employed the services of organized crime to assassinate the former Cuban president. From a euphemistic standpoint, what does the normalization of US-Cuban relations mean for Americans, Cubans, and the world in general? The economic sanctions imposed on Cuba since the 1960s has indeed crippled the development of the island. That is one of the reasons why any outsider feels as if they’ve taken a trip back in time whenever they try to get acclimated to its distinct surroundings.
From the perspective of a corporate multinational, Cuba stands as an untapped goldmine for the exploits of market driven capitalism. Cubans are eager to join the 21st century with its modern exploits, but what will be its total cost on Cuba’s integrity as a nation? If anything it seems that history is once again repeating itself all over again. One of the main reasons why Castro and his entourage of revolutionaries emerged was to reverse the corporate takeover of the island by American offshore multinationals. Each corporate multinational had the blessing of the old Batista regime which was kept in power through an elaborate association with the US government and intelligence community.
Nevertheless, maybe Cuba doesn’t really have a choice anymore? Cuba doesn’t want to be compared to the likes of North Korea even though both have very little in common. Of course, that is what the American far right would like us to believe, but here is a rather provocative question that is conveniently ignored by the same compartmentalized interest: if the United States is willing to facilitate open relations with the Chinese, both economic and diplomatic, why can’t the same principle be applied to Cuba? Maybe some of the best American products don’t need to be made in China anymore?
Cuba could serve as a competitive alternative, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that sweatshop wage slavery is the economic miracle in which Cubans really need or want for that matter. Unfortunately, independent bastions of regional power are eventually consumed by hegemonic powers once the old guard dries up an dies.
‘I don’t trust US’: Fidel Castro breaks silence on Cuba-America reconciliation
-Image is courtesy of Russia Today-