The U.S. State Department announced that a government contractor working in Cuba distributing free cell phones and laptops has been arrested by Cuban authorities. The detainee was employed by a subcontractor of Development Alternatives Inc., which in 2008 won a government contract to “help the U.S. government implement activities in support of the rule of law and human rights, political competition and consensus building, and to strengthen civil society” in Cuba.
No doubt the Obama administration will react negatively to this unfortunate event, which comes at a time when Washington is hoping for positive signs from Havana. Cell phones and laptops are now legal on the island, of course, so it is not clear exactly what offense has gotten this (as yet unidentified) individual arrested. But the detention of an American in Cuba is rare, so this promises to be a case that draws some attention.
Edited by G. John Ikenberry. Proposed Essay Topics 1) American Foreign Policy and the Future of Multilateralism Over the postwar decades, the United States played a leadership role in building multilateral regimes and institutions across a wide range of policy areas. It was a founder of the United Nations and champion of the Bretton Woods […]
U.S.–China Relations: Competition or Cooperation? The U.S. and China stand at the center of today’s most consequential global relationship—one that shapes trade, technology, security, and the future of international leadership.Great Decisions: U.S.–China Relations, a free classroom resource from the Foreign Policy Association, helps students explore the history, tensions, and interdependence between these two nations through […]
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