DECIPHERING CANADA'S CUBA POLICY SINCE 1959

Abstract

It is not always easy to encapsulate in a few words the essence or defining characteristics of Canadian–Cuban relations. In many ways, it is a fascinating, confounding and unique bilateral relationship. It has experienced periods of intense engagement, not so subtle patches of tough sledding, and times where it seemed to be drifting on auto-pilot. Since 1959, then, it has been a typically normal relationship in every sense of the term. Both countries have maintained uninterrupted diplomatic, political, commercial and people-to-people contacts for over 50 years. Irrespective of the tenor of the overall relationship, they have always agreed to talk to one another-as opposed to not talking at all or talking over each other's head. Accordingly, one of the key questions to consider here is: Why has it been a normal relationship – particularly given the huge contextual significance of the United States for both Canada and Cuba?