Q & AThe Americas

Despite Improved U.S. Relations With Cuba, Barriers to Progress Remain

In the first high-level meeting between the United States and Cuba since former U.S. President Jimmy Carter met with Cuban President Raul Castro in 2010, Sens. Patrick Leahy and Richard Shelby traveled to the island last week to discuss the case of imprisoned American Alan Gross.

Though the case has strained relations between the two countries, and though the U.S. remains the only country in the Western Hemisphere without normal diplomatic relations with Cuba, there have been improvements in the relationship, particularly over the past three years.

Geoff Thale, who oversees research and advocacy for the Washington Office on Latin America, identified three significant changes in particular since Barack Obama became president.

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