Polls & Research

Americans Want Relations with Cuba

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Most people in the United States believe their government should re-establish ties with Cuba, according to a poll by Gallup published in USA Today. 61 per cent of respondents support restoring diplomatic relations with the communist country, down six points since December.

Fidel Castro became the de facto leader of Cuba in 1959, following the conclusion of the revolution he led to overthrow Fulgencio Batista. In 1962, the United States imposed a trade embargo against Cuba.

In May 2002, U.S. president George W. Bush introduced his so-called initiative for a new Cuba, declaring, "The United States has no designs on Cuban sovereignty. It’s not a part of our strategy, or a part of our vision. In fact, the United States has been a strong and consistent supporter of freedom for the Cuban people. And it is important for those who love freedom on that beautiful island to know that our support for them will never waver."

In July 2006, the Cuban government announced a "provisional transfer of duties" to vice-president Raúl Castro, Fidel’s brother, after the president suffered "an acute intestinal crisis, with sustained bleeding" which required immediate medical intervention.

On Feb. 19, Fidel Castro announced he would not accept a nomination to seek a new term as head of state. 37 per cent of respondents think life under Raúl Castro will be better for Cubans, while 51 per cent think it will be no different than under Fidel.

On Mar. 3, more than 100 members of the U.S. House of Representatives—including nine Republican Party lawmakers—wrote a letter to U.S. state secretary Condoleezza Rice urging for a re-examination of the Cuban embargo, stating, "Our policy leaves us without influence at this critical moment, and this serves neither the U.S. national interest nor average Cubans. (…) After 50 years, it is time for us to think and act anew."

Polling Data

Do you favour or oppose re-establishing U.S. diplomatic relations with Cuba?

	Feb. 2008	Dec. 2006
Favour	61%	67%
Oppose	29%	27%
Unsure	10%	6%

As you may know, Fidel Castro has resigned as president of Cuba. As a result, do you think that the situation for people in Cuba will get better, stay the same, or get worse?

Better	37%
Same	51%
Worse	6%
Unsure	6%

Source: Gallup / USA Today
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 2,021 American adults, conducted from Feb. 21 to Feb. 24, 2008. Margin of error is 2 per cent.