The president’s visit to Cuba is part of his administration’s larger efforts to normalize US-Cuban relations, driven by the notion that engagement, rather than years of isolation, will empower Cubans and ultimately bring about change.
Advertisement
Both countries are passionate about baseball, a point Obama and Castro have underlined as they dismantle a Cold War-era conflict that Obama earlier told Cubans in a live television address he had come to “bury”.
It was unclear exactly which Cuban dissidents would attend the meeting at the U.S. Embassy, a matter of much speculation and scrutiny here ahead of the president’s trip.
Appealing directly to Cuban President Raul Castro, Obama said he “need not fear” the different voices of his people.
The issue of political prisoners is of particular importance to Cuban-Americans and the worldwide community. You know, all those kids who started growing up watching the Brooklyn Dodgers, and suddenly they’re rooting for a black man on the field.
But Mr Obama was also forced to address a more present global threat. However, just over a year ago, Obama and Castro moved toward detente.
“Many people asked for me to come here and tear something down”, Obama said, referencing Ronald Reagan’s famous visit to the Berlin Wall when he challenged Mijaíl Gorbachov to ‘tear down this wall’.
Castro also said that Washington needs to return sovereignty over Guantanamo, a corner of Cuba under USA control and the location for a controversial United States military prison housing foreigners allegedly involved in terrorism.
“I actually welcome President Castro commenting on some of the areas where he feels we’re falling short because I think we should not be immune or afraid of criticism or discussion as well”, Obama said.
The very real and important differences between the two countries, and it’s all on the table for discussion, Obama said.
Mr. Obama watched two innings of an exhibition baseball game between the Tampa Bay Rays and Cuba’s national team before heading to the airport and boarding Air Force One to resume his trip, which took him to Argentina.
Advertisement
“We share a national past-time – la pelota – and later today our players will compete on the same Havana field that Jackie Robinson played on before he made his Major League debut”, he said.
