Cuba Policy Change Statement

Obama on U.S. Policy Changes Regarding Cuba
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
Washington, D.C.
December 17, 2014
STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT ON CUBA POLICY CHANGES
Note: These are excerpts, not the complete speech which is available at whitehouse.gov
Today, the United States of America is changing its relationship with the people of Cuba.
In the most significant changes in our policy in more than fifty years, we will end an outdated
approach that, for decades, has failed to advance our interests, and instead we will begin to normalize
relations between our two countries. Through these changes, we intend to create more opportunities
for the American and Cuban people, and begin a new chapter among the nations of the Americas.
There’s a complicated history between the United States and Cuba. I was born in 1961 — just over
two years after Fidel Castro took power in Cuba, and just a few months after the Bay of Pigs invasion,
which tried to overthrow his regime. Over the next several decades, the relationship between our
countries played out against the backdrop of the Cold War, and America’s steadfast opposition to
communism. We are separated by just over 90 miles. But year after year, an ideological and economic
barrier hardened between our two countries.
Meanwhile, the Cuban exile community in the United States made enormous contributions to our
country — in politics and business, culture and sports. Like immigrants before, Cubans helped remake
America, even as they felt a painful yearning for the land and families they left behind. All of this
bound America and Cuba in a unique relationship, at once family and foe.
Proudly, the United States has supported democracy and human rights in Cuba through these five
decades. We have done so primarily through policies that aimed to isolate the island, preventing the
most basic travel and commerce that Americans can enjoy anyplace else. And though this policy has
been rooted in the best of intentions, no other nation joins us in imposing these sanctions, and it has
had little effect beyond providing the Cuban government with a rationale for restrictions on its people.
Today, Cuba is still governed by the Castros and the Communist Party that came to power half a
century ago.
Neither the American, nor Cuban people are well served by a rigid policy that is rooted in events that
took place before most of us were born…
That’s why — when I came into office — I promised to re-examine our Cuba policy. As a start, we
lifted restrictions for Cuban Americans to travel and send remittances to their families in Cuba. These
changes, once controversial, now seem obvious. Cuban Americans have been reunited with their
families, and are the best possible ambassadors for our values. And through these exchanges, a
younger generation of Cuban Americans has increasingly questioned an approach that does more to
keep Cuba closed off from an interconnected world….

First, I’ve instructed Secretary Kerry to immediately begin discussions with Cuba to reestablish
diplomatic relations that have been severed since January of 1961. Going forward, the United States
will reestablish an embassy in Havana, and high-ranking officials will visit Cuba.
Where we can advance shared interests, we will — on issues like health, migration, counterterrorism,
drug trafficking and disaster response. Indeed, we’ve seen the benefits of cooperation between our
countries before. It was a Cuban, Carlos Finlay, who discovered that mosquitoes carry yellow fever;
his work helped Walter Reed fight it. Cuba has sent hundreds of health care workers to Africa to fight
Ebola, and I believe American and Cuban health care workers should work side by side to stop the
spread of this deadly disease.
Now, where we disagree, we will raise those differences directly — as we will continue to do on issues
related to democracy and human rights in Cuba. But I believe that we can do more to support the
Cuban people and promote our values through engagement. After all, these 50 years have shown that
isolation has not worked. It’s time for a new approach.
Second, I’ve instructed Secretary Kerry to review Cuba’s designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism.
This review will be guided by the facts and the law. Terrorism has changed in the last several decades.
At a time when we are focused on threats from al Qaeda to ISIL, a nation that meets our conditions
and renounces the use of terrorism should not face this sanction.
Third, we are taking steps to increase travel, commerce, and the flow of information to and from
Cuba. This is fundamentally about freedom and openness, and also expresses my belief in the power
of people-to-people engagement. With the changes I’m announcing today, it will be easier for
Americans to travel to Cuba, and Americans will be able to use American credit and debit cards on the
island. Nobody represents America’s values better than the American people, and I believe this
contact will ultimately do more to empower the Cuban people.
I also believe that more resources should be able to reach the Cuban people. So we’re significantly
increasing the amount of money that can be sent to Cuba, and removing limits on remittances that
support humanitarian projects, the Cuban people, and the emerging Cuban private sector.
I believe that American businesses should not be put at a disadvantage, and that increased commerce
is good for Americans and for Cubans. So we will facilitate authorized transactions between the United
States and Cuba. U.S. financial institutions will be allowed to open accounts at Cuban financial
institutions. And it will be easier for U.S. exporters to sell goods in Cuba.
I believe in the free flow of information. Unfortunately, our sanctions on Cuba have denied Cubans
access to technology that has empowered individuals around the globe. So I’ve authorized increased
telecommunications connections between the United States and Cuba. Businesses will be able to sell
goods that enable Cubans to communicate with the United States and other countries.
These are the steps that I can take as President to change this policy. The embargo that’s been
imposed for decades is now codified in legislation. As these changes unfold, I look forward to engaging
Congress in an honest and serious debate about lifting the embargo.
To the Cuban people, America extends a hand of friendship. Some of you have looked to us as a
source of hope, and we will continue to shine a light of freedom. Others have seen us as a former

colonizer intent on controlling your future. José Martí once said, “Liberty is the right of every man to
be honest.” Today, I am being honest with you. We can never erase the history between us, but we
believe that you should be empowered to live with dignity and self-determination. Cubans have a
saying about daily life: “No es facil” — it’s not easy. Today, the United States wants to be a partner in
making the lives of ordinary Cubans a little bit easier, more free, more prosperous.