A former U.S. diplomat told students and community members America’s relations with Cuba could improve.
John Caulfield, the former chief of mission of the U.S. Interests Section in Havana, Cuba, spoke about the new trade relations between the U.S. and Cuba on Tuesday night. His speech, given to about 100 people at Pugh Hall, addressed economic reform, travel sanctions and the changing attitudes of both countries’ citizens. Caulfield was not paid for his speech.
Caulfield, who has spent three years living in Cuba, said relations between the two governments are still strained, despite the Obama administration’s renewed diplomacy with the communist country.
“This is not like your normal international relationship,” Caulfield said. “The U.S.-Cuban relationship was about divorce. Both sides — those Cubans that left, those Cubans that stayed — felt betrayed by each other.”
He said there have been recent changes in both countries’ policies. Americans are allowed to visit and send money to relatives in Cuba more easily, and Cubans now have the right to sell some private properties, such as cars and houses.
Despite these changes, Caulfield said drastic reform will not be possible until Cuba’s current president, Raúl Castro, is out of office.
“As long as Raúl is living, healthy, I’m sure things will remain exactly as he wants them,” he said. “When he’s gone, all bets are off.”
He said he thinks Cubans living in the country want a change in government.
“I don’t necessarily think this is going to be a smooth process,” Caulfield said. “The only thing I predict is it’s going to be different.”
Lauren Amos, a UF history junior, said she attended Caulfield’s speech so she could hear about Cuba from someone who’s been to the country.
“I feel like we’ve only ever heard about it from our point of view,” the 21-year-old said. “Like they’re the communists; they’re the bad guys.”
She said she would like to visit Cuba and is excited U.S. relations with the country are improving.
“I feel like it was just permanent,” she said. “And it’s all changing so fast, it’s just hard to process.”
Contact Kaitlyn Newberg at knewberg@alligator.org and follow her on Twitter @k_newberg.
John Caulfield, former Chief of U.S Interests Section in Cuba, discusses relations between the U.S. and Cuba on Jan. 26, 2016 in the Pugh Hall Ocora. "This is not your normal international relationship," he said, comparing it to a bad divorce.
