Senior Cuban officials have provided an increasingly dire snapshot of a deepening economic crisis in a series of televised prime-time appearances, revealing the extent of the downturn in unprecedented detail.
The special period was in the 90’s. That was a lot more recent than 60 years ago. And yes, they did adjust to the Soviet Union falling after that by trading with a few other countries, like Venezuela or Russia, but none of them have been the super power the USSR was, and they’ve never rose to the heights that they were at beforehand because the embargo still exists. They’ve renegotiated supply lines where they can, but the embargo makes it extremely difficult. They’ve made mistakes and been slow to adapt at times, but it’s hard to describe how hard that has been on them (plus Covid ruining their tourism industry). Theres a reason the UN votes overwhelmingly every year to have the US end it. Hell, even Obama lightening the load the slightest amount started to help their economy, which shows a glimmer of the potential, before Trump made it even worse.
They noticeably had some agricultural reforms recently including loosening of what livestock can be used for. Government salaries are extremely low because the country is very poor. They’ve been able to keep their social programs because they’re dedicated to their people more than they are keeping a few people very rich. Compare them to other poor Latin American countries and it becomes even more obvious.
Cuba wouldn’t just gain the ability to export to the US, it would change a lot. The US makes it difficult for products that are made with US parts to be imported there from anywhere, they don’t let ships that port at Cuba to port in the US, they pressure countries that trade with them, foreign subsidiaries of US countries can’t trade with them, and more. Often countries don’t find it worth it to navigate the regulations, like when Gofundme canceled funds to Cuba or Cuban people even when for medicine or whatever, during the pandemic. That’s why Cuba tends to work with countries that don’t mind pissing off the US, like Venezuela or Russia.
Yes, they’ve made mistakes, and will probably make more if the embargo is ever lifted, but at least they’d have control over their own destiny, instead of the US.
The special period was in the 90’s. That was a lot more recent than 60 years ago. And yes, they did adjust to the Soviet Union falling after that by trading with a few other countries, like Venezuela or Russia, but none of them have been the super power the USSR was, and they’ve never rose to the heights that they were at beforehand because the embargo still exists. They’ve renegotiated supply lines where they can, but the embargo makes it extremely difficult. They’ve made mistakes and been slow to adapt at times, but it’s hard to describe how hard that has been on them (plus Covid ruining their tourism industry). Theres a reason the UN votes overwhelmingly every year to have the US end it. Hell, even Obama lightening the load the slightest amount started to help their economy, which shows a glimmer of the potential, before Trump made it even worse.
They noticeably had some agricultural reforms recently including loosening of what livestock can be used for. Government salaries are extremely low because the country is very poor. They’ve been able to keep their social programs because they’re dedicated to their people more than they are keeping a few people very rich. Compare them to other poor Latin American countries and it becomes even more obvious.
Cuba wouldn’t just gain the ability to export to the US, it would change a lot. The US makes it difficult for products that are made with US parts to be imported there from anywhere, they don’t let ships that port at Cuba to port in the US, they pressure countries that trade with them, foreign subsidiaries of US countries can’t trade with them, and more. Often countries don’t find it worth it to navigate the regulations, like when Gofundme canceled funds to Cuba or Cuban people even when for medicine or whatever, during the pandemic. That’s why Cuba tends to work with countries that don’t mind pissing off the US, like Venezuela or Russia.
Yes, they’ve made mistakes, and will probably make more if the embargo is ever lifted, but at least they’d have control over their own destiny, instead of the US.
Removed by mod
Oh I see. You were talking about the US, I was talking the USSR. I get it. It gets harder to reply to these as the posts get longer and longer lol.