The United States and Cuba ended more than a half-century of enmity Wednesday, announcing that they would reestablish diplomatic relations and begin dismantling the last pillar of the Cold War.
The historic move, following 18 months of secret negotiations and finally made possible by Cuba's release of detained U.S. aid contractor Alan Gross, fulfilled one of President Obama's key second-term goals.
The decision is likely to reverberate across many political frontiers where the standoff between Washington and Havana has played a role — including across much of Latin America, where U.S. policy on Cuba has long been a source of friction.
"These 50 years have shown that isolation has not worked," Obama said in a televised, midday address. "It's time for a new approach."
Saying that he was "under no illusion about the continued barriers to freedom that remain for ordinary Cubans," Obama said he was convinced that "through a policy of engagement, we can more effectively stand up for our values and help the Cuban people help themselves."
In simultaneous remarks in Havana, Cuban President Raúl Castro affirmed his government's willingness for dialogue on "profound differences" between the countries, "particularly on issues related to national sovereignty, democracy, human rights and foreign policy."
Castro said that "Obama's decision . . . deserves the respect and acknowledgment of our people."
Obama and Castro — who spoke by phone Tuesday, the first such exchange between leaders of the two countries since the 1959 Cuban revolution — thanked Pope Francis and the Vatican, which they said were instrumental in promoting their dialogue, and the government of Canada, where secret talks that began in June 2013 were held.
In addition to reopening an embassy in Havana, the administration plans to significantly ease trade and financial restrictions, as well as limits on travel by Americans to Cuba, by using its regulatory and enforcement powers to evade limits imposed by a congressionally mandated embargo.
Americans will be permitted to send more money to Cuban nationals, use their debit and credit cards in Cuba, and bring $100 worth of Cuban cigars into this country. U.S. exports to Cuba will be made easier, and additional items will be authorized. U.S. banks will be allowed to open correspondent relations with banks in Cuba.
The administration also said it would launch a review of Cuba's status as a state sponsor of terrorism, a designation it feels Havana may not deserve alongside Sudan, Syria and Iran, and would work with Congress to ultimately lift the trade embargo and other sanctions.
