Cuba Prepares for Another Year in Isolation

Cuba has made some notable political and economic improvements in 2015, but the same will not be true in 2016. Cuba's economy, underpinned by tourism and remittance revenues and Venezuelan energy ties, has thrived, especially after the United States re-established economic and political ties with Cuba earlier in the year. However, in spite of the relative stability, it is unlikely that the United States will lift its trade embargo on Cuba in 2016. Havana will have to make difficult choices to counter the dependencies it has created and survive economic isolation.