Despite being a founding member of the
Organization of American States (OAS),
Cuba was effectively suspended from 21 January 1962 to 3 June 2009. Thus, for almost the entire time that the OAS has been operating, Cuba has been barred from sending representatives to the OAS and effectively had its membership suspended. It was not until 3 June 2009 that foreign ministers of OAS member countries assembled for the OAS's 39th
General Assembly in
San Pedro Sula,
Honduras, passed a vote to lift Cuba's suspension from the OAS.
Prerevolution background
Cuba was one of the 21 initial members of the OAS upon foundation in
Bogotá on 5 May 1948. The Organization, first led by Colombian
Alberto Lleras Camargo, was created "to achieve an order of peace and justice, to promote their solidarity, to strengthen their collaboration, and to defend their sovereignty, their territorial integrity, and their independence."
Post-revolution relations
Following the
Cuban Revolution of 1959,
relations between Cuba and the United States began to deteriorate rapidly. Initially, however, the nations that comprised the
Organization of American States were reluctant to be drawn on the issue of Cuba's representation at the organization. The
United States favored collective action against Cuba with the stated aim, as forwarded by President
John F. Kennedy, of isolating Cuba politically and economically. At a meeting of foreign ministers in August 1960, most nations refused to comment on the...
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