ASSESSING UNITED STATES OF AMERICA'S ENGAGEMENT IMPLEMENTATIONS TOWARDS THE REPUBLIC OF CUBA UNDER PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA ADMINISTRATION (2009-2016)

Abstract

Normalization means to restore relations between countries. United States and Cuba finally agreed to have bilateral normalization after being isolated from each other for more than a half century. The normalization itself is initiated by President Barack Obama and President Raul Castro on December 17, 2014. The hostility policy which divided United States and Cuba from each other is failed to bring change in Cuba which is favored by United States. Rather than keep pursuing a failed policy to justify United States relations with Cuba, President Obama thought that policy engagement and coexistence would address United States interests in Cuba better than the hostility policy. United States under President Obama seeks for a new approach which might be beneficial to handle United States and Cuba.s affairs after the normalization. Engagement policy is initiated following the normalization, President Obama stated that United States would end its failed policy and shift into policy engagement and coexistence with Cuba. This policy opened up new loop to engage more with the Cubans. It fosters the United States. interest to influence Cuba to uphold democracy and human right values. One of the initiations is Cuban-American family reunion which had been separated for a long time, and hope that the American would interact more with Cuban so Cuba could transform into more democratic country eventually.