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Description

The strategic import of U.S.-Cuba relations was underscored by President Barack Obama’s historic visit to Cuba from March 20–22, 2016, and his comment that he had come to Cuba “to bury the last remnant of the Cold War in the Americas.” Geography also reinforces the strategic importance of both countries to one another. Cuba sits astride the intersection of the three large bodies of water dominating the approaches to the southern United States. The large island nation is in a position to block, complicate, or facilitate U.S. border control efforts in many ways. Partnering with Cuba also might allow the United States to benefit from Cuba’s notable record of using soft power effectively in the Western Hemisphere and beyond.

Document Type

Policy Brief

Region(s)

Americas, Caribbean/Latin America

Topic(s)

National Security, Defense Policy, International Law

Publication Date

7-2016

Publication

Strategic Forum

Publisher

National Defense University Press

City

Washington, DC

Keywords

U.S.-Cuba military-to-military contacts, Cuba-U.S. strategic relations, Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba (FAR), Post-Cold War military rapprochement, Defense cooperation between U.S. and Cuba, Civil-military relations, Bilateral military engagement

Reflections on U.S.-Cuba Military-to-Military Contacts

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