Why Trump Should Keep Obama’s Cuba Policy

Posted: February 16th, 2017

By Rachel DeLevie-Orey

Rachel DeLevie-Orey is an Associate Director with the Atlantic Council's Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center. Her work focuses on US-Cuban relations, Mexican reform, and the role of technology in elections. She has been a key player in campaigns to advocate the normalization of relations between the US and Cuba, and strengthen US-Mexico ties. Work on these issues included publishing op-eds, offering political commentary to news outlets, and briefing government entities. Previously, Rachel worked at Grunwald Communications, a political advertising firm, and served as a Penn Kemble Fellow with the National Endowment for Democracy.

On Feb. 3, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer announced “we are in the midst of a full review of all U.S. policies towards Cuba.” This is excellent news.

Under an administration which has thus far been dominated by knee-jerk responses and actions dictated more by politics than policy, it is encouraging to know that the issue of U.S.-Cuba relations—which does not lack for fireworks and personal passion in this country—is being carefully considered. For those concerned that the U.S. did not get a good “deal” in the recent negotiations with Cuba, this now presents an ideal opportunity to further the relationship while it is at its most malleable. In the last two years, the United States and Cuba have shared discussions, exchanges, and negotiations not possible in the previous 50.

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