U.S. Should Normalize Relations with Cuba Rather Than Pursue Regime Change
Source: The American Conservative. "Cuba and the U.S. Are Bogged Down in History - The American Conservative." February 27, 2026. www.theamericanconservative.com
The Gist
The author argues that America's tough approach to Cuba isn't working and is actually making things worse. Instead of trying to overthrow Cuba's government through economic pressure, the U.S. should normalize relations and trade with Cuba, which would help both countries and put more pressure on Cuba to reform.
Conclusion
The Trump administration should abandon its coercive Cuba policy and instead normalize diplomatic relations and lift economic blockades to better serve both Cuban people and U.S. national interests
Premises
- Cuba poses no real security threat to the U.S., being a deeply impoverished nation with Soviet-era equipment and massive shortages
- Current U.S. coercive policies (oil blockades, economic pressure) will fail to produce regime change and may backfire
- Overthrowing the Cuban government risks creating a failed state like Haiti, which would be worse for U.S. security interests
- Cuba currently serves as a valuable security partner in combating regional drug trafficking and has no major crime problems
- Economic engagement and normalized relations would empower Cuban people and create pressure for reform while advancing U.S. security interests
- The current policy allows Cuba's government to scapegoat U.S. sanctions for their own failures, reducing pressure for internal reform
Assumptions
- Engagement is more effective than isolation for promoting political change
- Economic pressure on authoritarian regimes typically fails to produce desired political outcomes
- A collapsed Cuban state would create worse problems for the U.S. than the current communist government
- The Cuban people would benefit more from economic opportunities than from continued isolation