Washington’s Double Standard on Cuba: Havana as a Spurious “State Sponsor of Terrorism”

The recent lifting of Cuba’s suspension from membership in the Organization of American States indicates that Washington’s domination of the Inter-American system has passed. The preconditions set by the OAS for Cuba’s readmission were far weaker than those Secretary of State Hillary Clinton originally had demanded, demonstrating the power of regional consensus among Latin American leaders, which marked their initial step away from the repudiated policies of the Obama administration.

The controversy surrounding the readmission of Cuba to the OAS also shows that Havana will be the most critical point of contention amidst hopes for improved U.S.-Latin America ties. If the new administration decides to rapidly move toward no rmalized relations with Cuba, it will vastly improve the U.S.’s standing in the region; but if Washington insists on maintaining the traditional hostilities it has for decades fielded against Havana, it will almost certainly find itself politically isolated among the increasingly autonomous and frequently left-leaning Latin American states.

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This analysis was prepared by COHA Research Associate Brandon Bloch

Tuesday, September 15, 2009 | Press release 09.223