Stuck in the Middle: Canada's Relationship with the United States and Cuba

• In Event: Las implicaciones regionales de la evolución de las relaciones cubano-norteamericanas (2014-2018): los casos de Canadá, México y el Caribe

Abstract

The United States has been an important consideration in the Canadian - Cuban relationship for the past six decades. Canadian governments have often opposed American actions in Cuba but have had to carefully consider the potential American reaction to Canada's friendship with Cuba. Consequently, Ottawa has, at times, quietly assisted Washington. For example, Canada was one of the two countries in the hemisphere that maintained normal diplomatic relations with Cuba following US pressure to isolate Cuba after the Revolution, but at the same time Ottawa also reported back to Washington on activities on the island. While much of the normalization process begun under Obama has not been reversed, Trump's rhetoric and unpredictability have led to the deterioration of the US-Cuban relationship, and this has had consequences for the Canadian-Cuban relationship. This panel presentation will examine the current relationship among the three countries and discuss these consequences.

Author

• Lana Wylie, McMaster University