The blockade is a senseless policy, according to former U.S. presidential advisor
Granma | Thursday, 15 March 2018 | Click here for original article
WASHINGTON.— The U.S. blockade against Cuba is an outdated and senseless policy, stated political expert Robert Malley, who also served as special advisor to former U.S. President Barack Obama.
“Cuba is not a threat to the national security of the United States, so none of this; the sanctions, the blockade, the embargo, make any sense,” stated Malley in response to a question by Prensa Latina, during a meeting with members of the Foreign Press Association in France.
Regarding Obama’s decision to work toward the normalisation of relations, Malley recalled that the United States’ blockade policy led to the country's isolation on a continental level. Not one other nation supported its position toward Cuba, which “damaged its strategic interests,” he noted.
Malley stated that he hoped the Trump administration would cease it attempts to reverse progress made to date to normalize relations with Havana.
Since September 2017, operations at the U.S Embassy in Havana have practically frozen, with only essential staff providing services to U.S. citizens and for emergency cases. Meanwhile, the Trump administration ordered the withdrawal of 17 officials from the Cuban Embassy in Washington, which continues to offer services despite operations being affected by the measure.
The unilateral measures, which became official after the Embassy’s status was changed to an “unaccompanied post,” affect hundreds of the thousands of Cubans.
Meanwhile, the island continues to rank as a level three, of a scale of four on the United States’ travel security system, with the recommendation that citizens “reconsider” travelling to the country, despite the fact that Cuba is one of the safest destinations in the world.
