US-Cuban detente a triumph of pragmatism
The recent announcement of the United States and Cuba to re-establish diplomatic relations, signaling the beginning of normalization of bilateral ties, is a welcome development. While there will be bumps on the road, the move will succeed and have significant consequences for the Americas and beyond despite the braying of Cold War dinosaurs trapped in the ice of a bygone era.
The announcement should come as little surprise to those following the developments between Havana and Washington. It was only a matter of time before the planets aligned.
US President Barack Obama, while campaigning for the presidential election in 2008, told a leading anti-Fidel Castro exile group that the decades-old approach of isolating Cuba was a failure and that he would change that if elected. He made good on his promise at the beginning of his presidency when he announced a series of measures in April 2009.
