Cuba

  • Raul Castro takes over

    February - Raul Castro takes over as president, days after Fidel announces his retirement.
  • Peace with Russia

    November - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev visits. Two countries conclude new trade and economic accords in sign of strengthening relations. Raul Castro pays reciprocal visit to Russia in January 2009.
  • President Obama wants peace

    April - US President Barack Obama says he wants a new beginning with Cuba.
  • Cuba's citizens have freedom

    November - Cuba passes law allowing individuals to buy and sell private property for first time in 50 years.
  • Raul Castro re-elected

    February - The National Assembly re-elects Raul Castro as president. He says he will stand down at the end of his second term in 2018, by which time he will be 86.
  • Obama, Castro announce relations

    December - In a surprise development, US President Barack Obama and Cuba's President Raul Castro announce moves to normalise diplomatic relations between the two countries, severed for more than 50 years.
  • Barack Obama visits

    March - US President Barack Obama visits Cuba in the first US presidential visit there in 88 years.
  • Raul Castro dies

    November - Fidel Castro, former president and leader of the Cuban revolution, dies at the age of 90. Cuba declares nine days of national mourning.
  • U.S. eases restrictions

    January - US eases a number of trade restrictions with Cuba.
  • Trump's policies

    June - US President Donald Trump overturns some aspects of predecessor Barack Obama's policy on Cuba which brought about a thaw in relations between the two countries.