Cuba is facing a double whammy of natural disasters, leaving the island nation grappling with the aftermath of Hurricane Rafael and subsequent earthquakes. Hurricane Rafael, the 17th named storm of the 2024 season, tore through the Caribbean before making landfall in Cuba as a Category 3 storm. In the wake of the hurricane, two earthquakes, with magnitudes of 4.0 and 6.8, struck the island, triggering mudslides, damaging homes, and exacerbating the already widespread power outages. While electrical workers managed to restore power to the majority of Havana by the weekend, many areas remain in the dark, sparking rare public protests.
This series of events underscores the vulnerability of Cuba, particularly in light of its complex and ever-evolving relationship with the United States. Under President Barack Obama’s administration, US-Cuba relations saw a significant thaw after decades of frosty relations. This period witnessed the reopening of embassies, easing of travel and trade restrictions, and increased people-to-people exchanges. President Obama even made a historic visit to Cuba in 2016, becoming the first sitting U.S. president to do so since 1928. More airlines and cruise lines began service between the two nations, signaling a new chapter in their relationship.
However, the political landscape shifted with the election of Donald Trump in 2016. Trump reversed many of Obama’s policies, reimposing travel restrictions, tightening trade sanctions, and limiting remittances. These measures contributed to an economic crisis in Cuba during his administration, according to Bloomberg. The Biden administration, in a gesture of aid, authorized $2 million to Cuba in 2022 following Hurricane Ian.
The future of US-Cuba relations remains uncertain. With Trump’s potential return to the White House in the upcoming election, the direction of US policy towards Cuba remains unclear. The recent natural disasters and the ongoing political complexities add another layer of complexity to an already intricate relationship, leaving the fate of Cuba hanging in the balance.
