Once again, as Trump’s inauguration as the president-elect is underway, and foreign policy of the United States shifts. In attempt to reverse Trump’s Cuban sanctions, which Trump implemented during his presidency, Biden discusses a prisoner release with Cuba. This all comes at a time where Cuba feels the effects of sanctions and embargoes which were implemented in the Cold-War era. Yet, if Biden were to ease up on our strict relationship with Cuba, officials believe that once Trump takes office, he will implement the sanctions once more. Dave Sherwood, the bureau chief in Havana for Reuters writes: “Trump, a harsh Cuba critic who designated the island a state sponsor of terrorism – has not yet commented on the measures but has promised a hard line on the communist-run country. He also nominated U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, the son of immigrants from Cuba and an outspoken critic of the island’s government, as secretary of state.”
Due to the majority of the prisoners in question being convicted from essentially protest (charges ranging from vandalism to sedition), President Biden views the parameters to be unjust, thus wrongful convictions. Furthermore, the release of prisoners would allow Cuba room improve economic standings with the ease in sanctions. Currently Cuba faces record breaking shortages of food, fuel, medicine and electricity. With the almost immediate turnaround of Trump taking office, this deal with Cuba may fall. Why would they release prisoners for a short lived period of no sanctions? Or perhaps even a short period of time will briefly satisfy the dire need of relief to the cuban economy.
It appears that on a Regional Level of analysis, the Biden administration does not view Cuba as quite threatening, however, the Trump administration continue to hold Cold-war like viewpoints on the authoritarian state. On an individual level of analysis, Biden may deem the release of wrongfully convicted prisoners above the sanctions tanking the Cuban economy (thus feeling unthreatened by a stronger Cuba, in turn Cuba in general). Yet, Trump’s push to maintain sanctions shows his individual need to ‘exterminate’ authoritarianism, especially in the Western hemisphere, so to speak.