Obama’s Stance on the Trade Embargo with Cuba

 Obama’s Stance on the Trade Embargo with Cuba

The decision to lift the trade embargo on Cuba represents a challenging decision-making

process determined by various considerations. Whereas a presidential candidate may opt to

declare their ultimate aspirations to eradicate the embargo immediately to become duly elected

as president, other factors are likely to limit their stance on this decision. As per Mercado (2021),

irrespective of one’s intentions to eliminate the embargo, the political class benefiting most from

the barrier will try every means to stop such aspirants from ascending into power. In this case,

Obama’s intentions to end the embargo were essential based on personal beliefs, but his change

to support the limitation was mainly to maintain political influence.

Barack Obama's changing stance on ending the US government's trade embargo on Cuba

was primarily guided by his personal beliefs, political pragmatism, strategic considerations, and

the influence of domestic politics. Before declaring his presidential bid, Obama’s expression of

ending the bid was primarily driven by his belief that placing the embargo was no longer viable

and meant no good to US citizens (Grossman et al., 2022). Apart from that, Obama believed

eradicating the embargo would mean cultivating an excellent relationship with the Cuban-

American voters mostly residing in the State of Florida. However, after declaring his presidential

bid, he realized that lifting the embargo was an unpopular political decision likely to cost him

presidential victory. According to Mercado (2021), most individuals in the political class

perceived Obama’s bid as an uneconomical decision likely to cost the US government more

losses than gains. Similarly, his competitor, Senator John McCain, in the Republican party,

began utilizing Obama’s expression to uplift the embargo as a sign of weakness that could easily

disadvantage US citizens (Gillani et al., 2021). Essentially, Obama’s change from his initial

stance to lift the trade embargo on Cuba to upholding it was primarily informed by a lack of

political will that could have pushed him to lose the presential election.

In summary, Obama's failure to uphold his expression of lifting the trade embargo on

Cuba was predominantly driven by his strategic decision to maintain political influence. Whereas

upholding the elimination embargo after his presidential bid could have made him popular

among Cuban-American citizens, such a decision could be deemed unpopular among the

majority of American citizens. Notably, Obama’s decision on embargo indicates that decision-

making is a rigorous process that requires optimistic considerations.

References

Gillani, A., Manjusak, H., & Fabry, M. (2021). Impacts of the US Embargo on Cuba’s Public

Service Provisions: An Analysis of the George W. Bush and Obama Administration.

https://inta.gatech.edu/sites/default/files/2021-

05/Gillani%2C%20Annie%20and%20%20Manjusak%2C%20Hana%20-

INTA%204500%20Final%20Paper.pdf

Grossman, M., Matthews, R. E., & Schortgen, F. (2022). Obama’s Uncertain Legacy.

Achievements and Legacy of the Obama Presidency: “Hope and Change?” 179–188.

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-89529-7

Mercado, Z. (2021). Analyzing the US Embargo of Cuba: A Search for a Better Solution.

https://annamaria.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Zion-Mercado-Spring-2021.pdf

To get your assignment done, contact: researchwriters087@gmail.com