TO his credit, in what is indeed a major policy reversal, President Barack Obama had the courage to do away with a five-decade old “outdated approach” and restore diplomatic relations with Cuba, one of the world’s five states still officially communist.

Even though Raul Castro, his Cuban counterpart, was subdued in his speech and expected Mr Obama to do more, he nevertheless welcomed the proposed resumption of diplomatic relations — something that would not have been possible without a nod from the icon that is his brother, Fidel.

Also read: US re-establishing relations with Cuba, Obama announces

While the Vatican and Canada have been involved as facilitators since early last year, it was the release by Havana of the ailing American prisoner Alan Gross that made Washington move.

In his televised speech, President Obama was frank enough to admit that he was determined to chart “an even more ambitious course forward”, because America’s policy that sought to topple the Castro regime by means of diplomatic and economic coercion had failed.

For Havana, the move will have definite economic advantages. Venezuela, which gives aid to Cuba, has been embroiled in an economic crisis because of falling oil prices, making the Castro regime wonder whether Caracas will be able to continue its doles.

Normalisation with America will, therefore, mean at least a partial lifting of the embargo, something to which President Obama referred in his telecast.

Credit must be given here to the political acumen and steely nerves of the senior Castro. Only a small strip of water stood between tiny Cuba and the American giant, but Mr Castro never flinched.

He was the gainer when the CIA-sponsored Bay of Pigs invasion failed to arouse a popular uprising, making the Castro regime stronger than before. Those were the Cold War days, and he received full backing from the communist world. But even after the Soviet empire had collapsed, Mr Castro showed his mettle and didn’t bow. By any standards, Wednesday’s simultaneous announcement by the two presidents is a resounding victory for Cuba.

Published in Dawn, December 19th, 2014