**Cuba: US embargo maintained despite challenges**
For sixty-two years, the United States has maintained an economic and commercial blockade against Cuba, a policy that divides and has profound consequences for the Cuban population. Despite international calls to lift these sanctions, the US government persists in maintaining this restrictive policy.
There are multiple reasons for this. On the one hand, ideological and political considerations play an important role in the decision to maintain the embargo. On the other hand, legal obstacles make it difficult to lift these sanctions. Indeed, the Torricelli Act of 1992 and the Helms-Burton Act of 1996 strictly regulate US policy towards Cuba, thus limiting the authorities’ room for maneuver to change course.
Despite recent political developments, such as Cuba’s return to the US list of countries supporting terrorism, the US administration does not seem ready to soften its position towards the Caribbean island. Recent events, such as the blackout and the damage caused by Hurricane Oscar, underscore the urgency of action to help the Cuban people.
The political situation in Cuba, marked by the repression of opponents and the limitations of individual freedoms, further complicates the situation. U.S. policymakers must juggle these internal and external issues to develop a coherent strategy toward Cuba.
Despite attempts by some international actors to work toward lifting the embargo, the complexity of the political situation makes any decision difficult. The divergent interests of different stakeholders, including the Cuban diaspora in the United States, make the debate even more heated and polarized.
As the issue of the embargo on Cuba continues to divide and generate heated debate, it is crucial to maintain dialogue and seek viable solutions to ease the burden on the Cuban people. Faced with the economic, social and political challenges that Cuba faces, an approach based on cooperation and mutual respect seems to be the way forward to build a better future for all the island’s inhabitants.