For the past few decades, Cuba has been under an embargo placed by the United States after Fidel Castro led a rebel Communist group in the late 1950s to encourage citizens to fight against Fulgencio Batista’s democracy. The United States, itself being a democracy, was uneasy with having a communist neighbor so close to their borders. Soon the United States’ fears were confirmed when Cuba officially became an ally with the USSR, and strongly encouraged anti-American revolts. According to Time, “in late October of 1960, the U.S. imposed a strict embargo barring two-thirds of American imports from Cuba.”

   However, recently the United States-Cuba  situation was resolved: on July 20, 2015 the U.S. re-established diplomatic relations with Cuba and has reopened the embassies, previously closed in 1961, as well as allow citizens to travel to Cuba and lifting the embargo. The current President of Cuba, Raul Castro, spoke of the lengthy and complicated road they will face in returning their country to current standards and be able to mend the ties damaged by the past five decades of solitude with other countries. For now, however, Cuba is starting by modernizing their economy and attracting more tourists to generate a much needed cash flow.