Witness History Inside the Cuban thaw
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Apr 30, 2026 
Ben Rhodes, former White House deputy national security advisor who helped negotiate the 2014 US–Cuba opening. He recounts secret talks with Alejandro Castro, the Vatican-mediated meeting that sealed the deal, and the shock of the 2014 announcement. He also reflects on the 2017 rollback and his feelings of betrayal.
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Eight Hour Meeting That Began With Sandwiches
- Ben Rhodes describes an eight-hour first meeting with Alejandro Castro that started with the Bay of Pigs and Cuban grievances.
- They bonded over sandwiches, fishing and baseball, revealing that simple human conversation built unexpected trust between rivals.
Respecting History Changed The Tone Of Talks
- Small gestures and humane acknowledgement of history helped shift entrenched hostility into negotiation momentum.
- Rhodes says admitting respect for Cuba's narrative and Obama's handshake at Mandela's memorial built political trust that accelerated talks.
Using The Vatican As A Trust Machine
- The Vatican served as a credibility anchor that turned private agreements into binding commitments by witnessing the deal.
- Ben Rhodes and Alejandro told the Pope's officials their commitments aloud, which emotionally locked both sides into following through.