John Kerry makes landmark visit to Cuba

Secretary of State John Kerry will raise the American flag over the U.S. Embassy in Cuba on Friday, ending the Cold War in the Caribbean
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Havana CUBA U.S. Bay of Pigs Guantanamo Bay U.S. Embassy HAVANA 

100km 60 miles 2km 1.25 miles
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KEY EVENTS IN U.S.-CUBA RELATIONS

1959: Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba. U.S.-backed dictator Fulgencio Batista flees into exile

1960: Cuba expropriates most U.S. businesses, including oil refineries

1961: U.S. breaks off diplomatic relations. Castro declares Cuba socialist state, 24 hours before doomed Bay of Pigs invasion

1962: U.S. blockade forces removal of Soviet nuclear missiles from Cuba after standoff brings world to brink of nuclear war

1977: President Jimmy Carter partially restores relations with Cuba, but political tensions and 1980 election of Ronald Reagan end them

1988: U.S. arrests five Cuban spies and later jails them for espionage

1991: Collapse of Soviet Union devastates Cuban economy

2006: Raul Castro, Fidel’s brother, takes over presidential duties

2009: Cuba arrests USAID worker Alan Gross, accused of subversion

2014: President Barack Obama and Castro announce restoration of diplomatic ties and exchange of prisoners – including Gross and remaining three Cuban spies

May 2015: U.S. removes Cuba from list of state sponsors of terrorism

Jul 20: Embassies reopened in Havana and Washington

Aug 14: Kerry (inset) becomes first U.S. Secretary of State to visit Cuba since 1945
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Source: Wire agencies Pictures: Getty Images, Associated Press
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