ABSTRACT

The governments of the United States and Cuba became very much involved in the maneuvering that led to a partial formalization of relations in the late seventies. Contacts between members of the Cuban community in the United States and the Cuban premier himself provided an unexpected arena for the discussion of issues of capital importance to the former. The process of formalization could not really proceed beyond the initial stages of bargaining. US policy continued to rely on the embargo as the only leverage with which it could extract some concessions from Cuba. The former prevented Cuba from creating many Vietnams in Latin America while the latter thwarted US efforts to end the revolution. The element of continuity in US policy toward Cuba was provided by a strategy of “restrained hostility,” of “economic denial” implemented through the embargo. US policy continued to rely on the embargo as the only leverage with which it could extract some concessions from Cuba.