List of ambassadors of the United States to Cuba

Last updated
Ambassador of the United States to Cuba
US Department of State official seal.svg
Seal of the United States Department of State
Incumbent
Benjamin G. Ziff
Chargé d'Affaires a.i.
since July 14, 2022
NominatorThe President of the United States
AppointerThe President
with Senate advice and consent
Inaugural holder Herbert G. Squiers
as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
FormationMay 20, 1902;
reestablished July 20, 2015
Final holder Philip Bonsal (1960)
AbolishedJanuary 3, 1961 - July 20, 2015
Website U.S. Embassy - Havana

The United States ambassador to the Republic of Cuba is the official representative of the president of the United States to the head of state of Cuba, and serves as the head of the Embassy of the United States in Havana. Direct bilateral diplomatic relations did not exist between the two countries from 1961 to 2015. President Dwight D. Eisenhower severed relations following the Cuban Revolution on January 3, 1961. [1] Relations were subsequently restored by Cuban President Raúl Castro and President Barack Obama on July 20, 2015.

Contents

With the restoration of relations in 2015, the president may nominate an ambassador, though the position has remained vacant since 1960. The embassy is currently run by a Chargé d'affaires ad interim, Benjamin G. Ziff. The Chargé d'affaires and the embassy staff at large work in the American Embassy on the Malecón in Havana.

History

Cuba was the last major Spanish colony to gain independence, following a lengthy struggle that began in 1868. José Martí, Cuba's national hero, helped initiate the final push for independence in 1895. In 1898, the United States fought a brief war known as the Spanish–American War, after the USS Maine sank in Havana Harbor on February 15, 1898, due to an explosion of undetermined origin. In December 1898, Spain relinquished control of Cuba to the United States with the Treaty of Paris. On May 20, 1902, the United States granted Cuba its independence but retained the right to intervene to preserve Cuban independence and stability in accordance with the Platt Amendment. Prior to 1902, American interests in Cuba were represented by a Consul-General at Havana.

In 1902 the US established an embassy in Havana and appointed its first ambassador, Herbert G. Squiers. In 1934, the Platt Amendment was repealed. The United States and Cuba concluded a Treaty of Relations in 1934 which, among other things, continued the 1903 agreements that leased the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base to the United States. In 1959 Fidel Castro's 26th of July Movement overthrew the government of Fulgencio Batista and Batista fled the country on January 1, 1959. Relations between the United States and Cuba deteriorated rapidly as the Cuban government expropriated US properties and developed close ties with the Soviet Union. In October 1960, the US recalled its ambassador to protest Castro's policies. On January 3, 1961, the US withdrew diplomatic recognition of the Cuban government and closed the embassy in Havana. On September 1, 1977, the US established the United States Interests Section in Havana, located in its former embassy and operated under the auspices of the Embassy of Switzerland in Havana. The Interests Section was headed by Chief of Mission rather than an ambassador. Bilateral relations between the two governments resumed on July 20, 2015.

Consuls General at Havana

Ambassadors

Name [lower-alpha 1] Appointed Presented credentials Terminated missionNotes
Herbert G. Squiers May 20, 1902May 27, 1902December 2, 1905
Edwin V. Morgan November 29, 1905March 1, 1906 [lower-alpha 2] January 5, 1910
John Brinkerhoff Jackson December 21, 1909March 22, 1910October 27, 1911Recalled
Arthur M. Beaupre August 12, 1911December 18, 1911June 28, 1913
William E. Gonzales June 21, 1913August 9, 1913December 18, 1919Political appointee
Boaz W. Long June 30, 1919January 8, 1920June 17, 1921Political appointee
Enoch H. Crowder February 10, 1923March 5, 1923May 28, 1927Political appointee
Noble Brandon Judah November 22, 1927December 17, 1927 [lower-alpha 3] June 1, 1929Political appointee
Harry F. Guggenheim October 10, 1929November 21, 1929April 2, 1933Political appointee
Sumner Welles April 24, 1933May 11, 1933December 13, 1933 [lower-alpha 4] Career FSO.
Jefferson Caffery February 23, 1934February 28, 1934March 9, 1937Career FSO
J. Butler Wright July 13, 1937August 23, 1937December 4, 1939Career FSO. Died at post.
George S. Messersmith January 12, 1940March 8, 1940February 8, 1942Career FSO. Recalled.
Spruille Braden December 20, 1941May 19, 1942April 27, 1945Political appointee
Raymond Henry Norweb May 21, 1945July 24, 1945May 22, 1948Career FSO
Robert Butler May 22, 1948June 8, 1948February 10, 1951Political appointee
Willard L. Beaulac June 20, 1951September 20, 1951August 9, 1953Career FSO
Arthur Gardner May 28, 1953October 16, 1953June 16, 1957Political appointee
Earl E. T. Smith June 3, 1957July 23, 1957January 19, 1959Political appointee
Philip W. Bonsal February 16, 1959March 3, 1959October 28, 1960 [lower-alpha 5] Career FSO.

Normal relations were severed in January 1961 and were not re-established until July 2015. An ambassador to Cuba has not been appointed since the re-establishment of diplomatic relations. All the following served Chargé d'affaires ad interim.

Chiefs of the U.S. Interests Section

The Interests Section operated from September 1, 1977, to July 20, 2015.

Notes

    See also

    Notes

    1. ↑ The ambassador held the title "Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary" before 1921 and "Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary" afterwards.
    2. ↑ Morgan was commissioned during a recess of the Senate and recommissioned after confirmation on December 11, 1905.
    3. ↑ Judah was commissioned during a recess of the Senate and recommissioned after confirmation on December 17, 1927.
    4. ↑ Normal relations were interrupted on September 5, 1933; the new Government of Cuba was still unrecognized by the United States when Welles left post on December 13, 1933.
    5. ↑ Daniel M. Braddock was serving as Chargé d'affaires ad interim when the United States severed diplomatic relations with Cuba in January 1961.

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    References

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