As a direct response to a series of sonic attacks against U.S. and Canadian diplomats in 2016 and 2017, the United States will sharply reduce its diplomatic engagement with Cuba. According to several reports, the U.S. Department of State will indefinitely stop issuing visas in Cuba, has warned U.S. citizens against travel to Cuba, and will repatriate 60 percent of diplomatic staff currently working on the island. According to reports, the United States does not believe the Cuban government is responsible for the attacks, which raises the likelihood that the decision to reduce diplomatic staff is a safety precaution because their safety in Havana cannot currently be guaranteed. Even if the decision to reduce diplomatic staff in Cuba is out of an abundance of caution, U.S. reluctance to engage Cuba diplomatically will bolster Havana's dependence on Venezuela in the short term....
