What has Obama accomplished in foreign policy during his tenure? He is often criticized for not utilizing military force against a number of 'hostile actors', but we often overlook a major success of his administration. One of the more major decisions that his administration has recently undertaken is important to me, given my own attachment toward the island nation of Cuba. This policy that Obama has pushed forward on known as the 'Cuban Thaw', has renewed negotiations and relations with Cuba, and has allowed for greater cooperation between the two countries. This policy is still in the making and there are still hurdles to go through, but this foreign policy success cannot be underplayed.
What do most think of when Cuba comes to mind? For many I imagine images of the Cuban revolution, a revolution that led to the first and only communist state in Latin America. Images of Fidel Castro, Che Guevara, and other 'revolutionary' leaders are instilled into the American consciousness, whether they view these images positively or negatively. Whatever one thinks of the Castro regime it is clear that this long withstanding policy had not led to any prosperity for the Cuban people. The idea of an embargo removing an authoritarian government is foolhardy, as it only emboldened the power base of that ruthless government.
Personally my perspective of the Castro regime is far more negative than positive, as his regime locked up political dissidents and instituted heavy-handed repression of the media. Despite this, I view it to be honestly irrelevant, as this regime does not threaten the United States or its interests. The U.S. maintains embargoes on two other nations as well, policies which I believe are ineffective, but Iran and North Korea certainly are a far greater threat than the modern Cuban state.
It is true that Cuba has sponsored terrorist groups during the Cold War yet the Cold War ended over two decades ago. Cuba was recently taken off the 'state sponsors of terror' list as even the most stringent hardliners in government find it difficult to call Cuba a 'state sponsor of terror.' At the end of the Cold War, Cuba pleaded with the U.S. for a lifting of an embargo, and nearly all the members of the UN pressured the U.S. to end the failed policy. Only Israel and a handful of island nations supported the U.S. embargo due to their own geopolitical interests, interests that were clearly not that of the rest of the world.
I think back to my experiences in Cuba nearly a year and a half ago. I saw the nation just before the 'Cuban Thaw' occurred, and I saw a nation that was desperate for change. Even my government appointed 'tour guide' expressed her desires for greater freedom and exposure to U.S. goods, and she believed that the embargo has increased the regime's power. Ordinary Cubans just want to be able to prosper their own way, not dictated by the United States or the Castro regime. The Cuban people saw two power-hungry dictators, both of whom committed vicious acts against the Cuban people, one sponsored by the Soviets, one sponsored by the Americans.
I saw a nation with so much potential, a nation that if independent and free would be a useful asset to the international community. Despite sanctions and economic deprivation, Cuba has cultivated many beneficial programs that can, should, and will be exported to many nations. Cuban scientific research is the envy of the developing world, and while they have received criticism for underpaying its workers, their scientific sector is one of the best in Latin America.
So all this being said, I have my own disagreements with Obama's policy on a variety of issues. We can criticize many elements of Obama's policy, yet when he does something that will lead to resounding benefits for so many he deserves all the credit in the world. This is a key aspect of Obama's foreign policy legacy akin to Nixon's foreign policy legacy for opening up diplomatic relations with China. Looking back I believe future generations will look toward this opening of relations as one of Obama's most successful foreign policy initiatives.