US says no to Guantanamo Bay return to Cuba during a press briefing by Press Secretary Josh Earnest. Mr Earnest made it clear that despite the renewed relations between the US and Cuba, President Barack Obama has no plans to give back Guantanamo Bay.
The headline “US no Guantanamo Bay return” is trending and many are wondering what does it mean for the renewed talks between Presidents Raul Castro and Barack Obama. On Wednesday, Cuba’s president Raul Castro spoke to the media where he revealed that he wants president Barack Obama to give him back control of Guantanamo Bay.
Mr Castro said that the return of Guantanamo Bay to his government would help normalize the relation between the two nations. Castro also asked that the US trade embargo be lifted – it is not believed that Republican-controlled Senate and House will ever address such thorny matter.
The controversial leader stated:
“The re-establishment of diplomatic relations is the start of a process of normalising bilateral relations. But this will not be possible while the blockade still exists, while they don’t give back the territory illegally occupied by the Guantanamo naval base.”
Since 1959, the Castros have been demanding the return of the land, claiming that it is a violation of international laws. On Thursday, during a press briefing at the White House, Press Secretary Josh Earnest made it clear that the US plans to keep leasing Guantanamo Bay.
The White House spokesperson explained that while Obama still hopes to move all the prisoners before the end of his presidency, the naval base will remain open. In 2009, Obama issued an executive order to close the military prison that has been embroiled in numerous controversies over the years because of reports claiming that the inmates are being tortured and seldom get their cases heard by a judge.
Earnest told reporters:
“Obama does believe that the prison at Guantanamo Bay should be closed down… but not the naval base.”
Since 1903 as part of a treaty after the Spanish-American War, the US has been in control of more than 45 sq. mi. of Guantanamo Bay. In December 2014, Havana and Washington announced that they had reopened diplomatic talks, agreeing to restore diplomatic ties severed in 1961.
Obama hopes to bypass Congress and re-establish an embassy in Cuba. The US saying no to a Guantanamo Bay return to Cuba might slow things down a bit. What do you think of this development?
