CFR's James M. Lindsay remembers the Bay of Pigs invasion, which began on April 17, 1961, and discusses the importance of preparing for failure and planning accordingly.

The authors analyze the prospect of oil drilling off the coast of Cuba and suggest precautions the United States should take to defend against a potential oil spill emanating from Cuba.

Under President Raul Castro, Cuba has begun economic and political reforms while bolstering ties with Brazil and the Vatican. But Washington has failed to seize on opportunities for expanding relations, says CFR's Julia E. Sweig.

Julia E. Sweig analyzes the significance of the first-ever Communist Party Conference in Cuba.

Julia E. Sweig discusses Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff's upcoming visit to Cuba.

Elliott Abrams discusses the Castro regime's prisoner release, in which USAID contractor Alan Gross was not included.

Captain Melissa Bert, USCG, argues that as Cuba moves ahead with plans for a mobile offshore drilling unit, the United States must incorporate Cuba in emergency response coordination and joint operations, work through sanctions hurdles, and properly fund a response to a potential disaster.

Joel D. Hirst explains the Bolivarian Alternative to the Americas (ALBA).

Having just returned from Cuba's Communist Party Congress, Council on Foreign Relations' Senior Fellow for Latin America Studies, Julia Sweig, shares her analysis of the political and economic reforms introduced by Raul Castro.

As Cuba's Communist Party convenes this weekend for the first time in fourteen years, President Raul Castro will look to clarify and gain support for economic reforms. CFR's Julia Sweig says the country has made significant strides toward modernization and suggests the United States should amend its restrictive Cuba policies.

Peter Kornbluh and Julia E. Sweig say that the case against Cuban exile Luis Posada Carriles has produced unprecedented cooperation between the Cuban and U.S. governments.

Julia Sweig says a "radical new phase" in Cuban history is unfolding in plain sight, but Washington does not seem to notice.

Following a recent trip to Cuba, Julia Sweig, Senior Fellow for Latin American Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, and Jeffrey Goldberg, National Correspondent for The Atlantic Magazine, address questions from listeners.

Listen to CFR expert Julia Sweig and The Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg answer questions about their meetings with Fidel Castro and their significance for Cuba and U.S.-Cuban relations.

Marifeli Perez-Stable comments on the lack of structural and economic changes in Cuba since Raúl Castro's takeover of power in 2007.

The announcement that Cuba's government will release more than fifty political prisoners could create political space for reforms in Cuba, and an easing of the U.S. embargo, says CFR's Julia Sweig.

Cubans want the United States to lift its long-standing embargo on Cuba, but any serious easing of trade and travel restrictions between the two countries may badly harm Cuba's health-care industry.

Statement

The U.S. State Department continues to list Cuba as a state sponsor of terror, though most experts say the country no longer poses a threat to U.S. national security.

Listen to CFR's Julia E. Sweig discuss her recent book, Cuba: What Everyone Needs to Know,  as well as the Obama administration's Latin America policy with students as part of CFR's Academic Conference Call series.

Learn more about CFR's Academic Initiative.