Long-time allies, Cuba and Venezuela go different ways

Just one day after announcing the restoration of diplomatic ties between his country and Cuba – following five decades of enmity – U.S. President Barack Obama turned sharply to the right last week and slapped a series of economic sanctions on Venezuela, long Cuba’s closest ally in the region and a socialist fellow traveller to boot. Suddenly, the oil-rich but financially troubled South American country seemed to be very much alone, and at the worst time possible. “Two days ago, Maduro was ordering everyone to burn their visas to the United States,” tweeted opposition firebrand Maria Corina Machado, referring to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, a fierce critic of the U.S. government. “Meanwhile, Raul Castro was applying for his.” More…