Cuba has entered a new era of economic reform that defies easy comparison to post-Communist transitions elsewhere. Washington should take the initiative and establish a new diplomatic and economic modus vivendi with Havana.

Julia Sweig shares her impressions regarding ongoing and future political, economic, and social changes in Cuba.

Julia Sweig discusses the appointment of Miguel Diaz-Canel, the new first vice president of Cuba and the "name and the face of the Post-Castro era."

Despite changes in both U.S. and Cuban leadership since early 2008, experts do not anticipate any normalization of U.S.-Cuba relations in the near to medium term.

Julia E. Sweig argues that the post-Castro era was ushered in by Raul Castro's implementation of new reforms on the island.

The argument for sustained U.S. diplomatic engagement with Havana has never been more compelling, says CFR's Julia Sweig.

Graham Allison ("The Cuban Missile Crisis at 50," July/August 2012) seems to believe that U.S. President John F. Kennedy's handling of the Cuban missile crisis was an unalloyed success.

Stephen Sestanovich offers a rebuttal to Leslie H. Gelb's reading of the Cuban missile crisis.

Fifty years ago, the Cuban missile crisis brought the world to the brink of nuclear disaster. Every president since John F. Kennedy has tried to learn from what happened back then. Today, it can help U.S. policymakers understand what to do -- and what not to do -- about Iran, North Korea, China, and presidential decision-making in general.

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.

As Cuba drills its first offshore oil well, the United States should anticipate the possibility of an oil spill, implementing policies that would help both countries stem and clean up a spill in a way that is minimally disruptive to the United States' Cuba strategy.

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.