America’s five-decade blockade of Cuba Cuban President Raul Castro and U.S. President Barack Obama have opened formal talks on restoring diplomatic relations, but only the U.S. Congress has the power to lift the 52-year-long trade embargo ---------------------------------- 1959: Cuban revolutionaries oust U.S.-backed dictator Fulgencio Batista 1962: Cuban government of Fidel Castro (right) nationalizes U.S. property. President John F. Kennedy(far right) retaliates with embargo --------------------------------- Havana Pinar del Río 100km 62 miles Santa Clara Bay of Pigs CARIBBEAN SEA CUBA Camaguey Sierra Maestra Santiago Guantanamo Bay Sierra Cristal U.S. ------------------------------------ Oct 1962, Missile Crisis: – U.S. and USSR teeter on brink of war when Castro allows Soviet Union to base nuclear missiles on island 1963: Financial transactions and travel to Cuba banned for U.S. citizens 1975: Blockade becomes violent with CIA-linked mid-air bombing of Cuban airliner, 73 people killed 1977: U.S. President Jimmy Carter eases restrictions, drops travel ban 1981-85: President Ronald Reagan tightens embargo, strengthens travel ban, prohibits U.S. citizens from spending money in Cuba 1992: In bid to bring down Castro “within weeks”, President George H. W. Bush signs Cuban Democracy Act. Move prohibits U.S. subsidiaries from buying Cuban food and medicine 1996: President Bill Clinton signs Helms-Burton Act which imposes penalties on foreign companies doing business in Cuba. Act opposed by EU 2000: President George W. Bush approves sale of food and medicines to Cuba 2002: U.S. opens Guantanamo Bay for interrogation of Al Qaeda suspects. Cuba added to Bush administration’s list of axis of evil countries 2008: Fidel Castro steps down, Raul Castro takes over as president 2009: U.S. President Barack Obama takes office – says he wants new beginning with Cuba 2012: Pope Benedict visits Cuba 2014: Cuba agrees to EU invitation to begin talks to restore relations and boost economic ties, on condition of progress on human rights Sep-Oct: Cuba sends hundreds of medical staff to West African countries hit by Ebola epidemic Dec: President Obama orders opening of embassy in Havana and review of Cuba’s designation as state sponsor of terrorism ---------------------------------- Sources: BBC, New York Times Pictures: Associated Press words 362