Transition in Cuba

Earlier today Fidel Castro, the leader of Cuba for nearly 50 signaled his intention to relinquish power with the seating of the next national assembly.

The Center for Democracy in the Americas released the following statement (in part):

"People here should not misunderstand this historic moment: the Cubans we know, even determined political opponents of Fidel Castro, are proud of their country, proud of its accomplishments, and persuaded that only Cubans in Cuba -- not politicians in Washington or hardliners in Miami -- have the right and responsibility to determine their own destiny."

This refers to the policy of "embargo" that the US has followed since the JFK era. Originally the US would not engage with Cuba while Fidel Castro was in charge. For more than a year his brother Raul has de facto been in charge, which changed the US policy to "any Castro" so that the current embargo, popular with many (but not all) Cubans in Miami could be maintained.

The embargo is a complicated situation. From a travel standpoint, it means that it is a felony, yes felony, to travel to Cuba for any citizen of the US whether residing here or abroad OR for any citizen of ANY country traveling on any other national passport but RESIDING in the US. The only exceptions are granted by license from the Office of Foreign Assets Control in Washington.