Obama and Raúl Announce Historic Normalization

President Obama and President Raúl Castro simultaneously announced the re-establishment of full diplomatic relations in a joint televised address — the most significant shift in US-Cuba policy in 50 years. The deal, brokered by Canada and the Vatican, included the release of Alan Gross and 53 political prisoners, plus an exchange of intelligence agents. Obama said the 54-year embargo policy 'has failed.'