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President Donald
Trump, before taking office, threatened to torpedo the still
fragile detente between the former Cold War foes unless a
“better deal” could be struck, without providing details. His
aides have said current policy is under review.
"Cuba and the United States can cooperate and live side by side
in a civilized manner, respecting our differences and promoting
all that is of benefit for both countries and people," Castro
said in his government's first remarks since Trump took office
on Friday.
"But it should not hope that to achieve this Cuba will make
concessions inherent to its independence and sovereignty," he
said, in a speech to a summit of Latin American and Caribbean
leaders in the Dominican Republic broadcast live on Cuban
television.
Seeking to reverse more than 50 years of U.S. efforts to force
Communist-run Cuba to change by isolating it, Obama agreed with
Castro in December 2014 to work to normalize relations. Since
then the two countries have restored diplomatic ties and signed
cooperation agreements.
Obama, a Democrat, used executive orders to circumvent the
longstanding U.S. trade embargo on Cuba and ease some
restrictions on travel and business. The embargo can only be
lifted by the U.S. Congress, which is controlled by Republicans.
The normalization process has included the signing of 22
agreements between the two former Cold War foes and the use of
executive orders to punch holes in the embargo.
The agreements include cooperation on environmental and security
issues, immigration and postal service.
Travel to the Caribbean island from the United States has
increased, with the start of direct flights and cruises and
roaming agreements signed, but no manufacturing or significant
trade deals have been inked.
Castro said he hoped the Trump administration would respect the
region, but called “worrisome” its declared intentions to put at
risk “our interests in the areas of trade, employment, migration
and the environment,” apparently referring to Mexico.
(Additional reporting by Marc Frank; Editing by James Dalgleish)
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