In March 2024, Cuba experienced significant unrest as citizens protested food shortages and surging energy costs. As it sought emergency aid from the United Nations, Havana accused the United States of inciting the protests, a charge Washington categorically denies. This tension has underscored the historic antagonism between the two nations. While the U.S. imposed strict sanctions on Cuba sixty years ago and still criticises its single-party system and human rights record, Cuba resists what it sees as American hegemony and maintains its communist ethos. But are things about to change? Having been a Spanish colony, Cuba gained independence in 1902 after the Spanish-American War. Following decades of instability, it came under the control of a military dictator, Fulgencio Batista, in the early 1950s. This prompted the Cuban Revolution, led by Fidel Castro and his brother Raul. Following the seizure of American assets on the island, Washington imposed tough sanctions on Cuba. Taking place against the backdrop of the Cold War, this pushed Cuba towards closer ties to the Soviet Union, which in turn sparked the Cuban Missile Crisis. However, as the USSR collapsed in 1991, Cuba faced a profound economic crisis. Despite this, it remained under one-party community rule. However, while the embargo remained, relations started improving under President Obama before deteriorating again under Donald Trump. However, as the Biden Administration has introduced some new steps to ease relations, new tensions have emerged as Cuba faces a new economic crisis that has forced it to approach the United Nations World Food Programme. This has led to demonstrations on the island. But as Havana and Washington trade accusations over the recent unrest, the world watches to see whether this marks a tipping point for the communist regime or just another chapter in Cuba's long history of tensions with the United States. MY NEW BOOK! Secession and State Creation: What Everyone Needs to Know Oxford University Press https://global.oup.com/academic/product/secession-and-state-creation-9780190494049 Amazon https://amzn.to/2MPY3W2 Audiobooks.com https://www.audiobooks.co.uk/audiobook/secession-and-state-creation-what-everyone-needs-to-know/637281 SUPPORT THE CHANNEL Hello and welcome! My name is James Ker-Lindsay, and here I take an informed look at International Relations, conflict, security, and statehood. If you like what you see, please subscribe. Even better, perhaps consider becoming a Channel Member or supporting the Channel through Patreon. Thank you! SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE null BECOME A CHANNEL MEMBER null JOIN MY PATREON PAGE https://www.patreon.com/JamesKerLindsay VIDEO CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction and Titles 00:47 The Complex Cuba-US Relationship 01:48 Cuba: Location and Population 02:37 A Short History of Cuba 03:46 Cuba after Independence, 1902-1959 05:20 Cuba-US Relations during the Cold War 06:32 Cuban-American Relations after the Cold War 08:02 US-Cuba Under Obama and Trump 09:22 Renewed Tensions in US-Cuba Relations 10:38 US-Cuban Relations and the March 2024 Protests 12:27 The Future of US-Cuban Relations SOURCES AND FURTHER READING Ministry of Foreign Affairs | Republic of Cuba https://cubaminrex.cu/en CUBA | US State Department https://www.state.gov/countries-areas/cuba/ Platt Amendment | US National Archives https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/platt-amendment President Obama Speech on Cuba | 17 December 2014https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyw1iKif9Zs President Trump Speech on Cuba | 19 June 2017 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iv1KgsYwlU EQUIPMENT USED TO MAKE THIS VIDEO https://kit.co/JamesKerLindsay MAP CONTENT https://www.themaparchive.com/ DISCLAIMERS - The contents of this video and any views expressed in it were not reviewed in advance nor determined by any outside persons or organisation. - Some of the links above are affiliate links. These pay a small commission if you make a purchase. This helps to support the channel and will be at no additional cost to you. #Cuba #UnitedStates #USA