Before US President Barack Obama's historic visit to Cuba, there had already been a massive a push for the country to improve its record on human rights, contending with President Raul Castro, who defended the situation by denouncing the US for having "double standards." Human rights have remained an impediment to strengthening ties with Cuba, despite the reconciliation reached by the two leaders in 2014, Obama said, adding a "full flowering" of the relationship could happen only with progress on the issue – of which the main concern, is the detention prison Guantanamo Bay. The President has been ruthless with his pledge for the closure the Cuban military prison, with the intention of transferring the remaining detainees to America.
Castro has since offered Cuba's recipe for better relations – saying the two countries could achieve much better ties if the United States lifted its 54-year-old trade embargo on the island and handed back the Guantanamo base to Cuba.
The United States flag flies inside of Joint Task Force Guantanamo Camp VI at the U.S. Naval Base in Guantanamo BayLucas Jackson/ Reuters
For decades, Obama's trip would have been unthinkable, and only became possible after secret talks led to a 2014 agreement to normalise relations between the two Cold War-era foes. Yet Obama has now urged Congress to rescind the economic embargo but has been rejected by the Republican leadership, bringing both Democratic and Republican elected officials with him on his Cuba trip with the hope that Congress may act after the 8 November presidential election.
Reuters photographer Lucas Jackson has documented life inside Guantanamo Bay, giving viewers an insight into how the detainees live, in relation to the human rights issues the US President has raised.
Soldiers attached to Joint Task Force Guantanamo brief visiting members of the media within Camp VI at the U.S. Naval Base in Guantanamo BayLucas Jackson/ ReutersItems not allowed to be brought within Joint Task Force Guantanamo's Camp VI sit in a cabinet at the U.S. Naval Base in Guantanamo BayLucas Jackson/ ReutersA sign identifies Joint Task Force Guantanamo's Camp VI at the U.S. Naval Base in Guantanamo Bay, CubaLucas Jackson/ ReutersA soldier attached to Joint Task Force Guantanamo walks past a sign posted at the U.S. Naval Base in Guantanamo BayLucas Jackson/ ReutersA detainee watches television while being held in Joint Task Force Guantanamo's Camp VI at the U.S. Naval Base in Guantanamo BayLucas Jackson/ ReutersA detainee lifts a paper bag within Joint Task Force Guantanamo's Camp VI at the U.S. Naval Base in Guantanamo BayLucas Jackson/ ReutersA National Geographic Magazine that has been defaced by inmates is shown in Joint Task Force Guantanamo's library at the U.S. Naval Base in Guantanamo BayLucas Jackson/ ReutersA soldier shows an arrow that points to Mecca inside of sample cell within Joint Task Force Guantanamo's Camp VI at the U.S. Naval Base in Guantanamo BayLucas Jackson/ ReutersA protected television set hangs above a cell block within Joint Task Force Guantanamo's Camp VI at the U.S. Naval Base in Guantanamo BayLucas Jackson/ ReutersChain link fence and concertina wire surrounds Joint Task Force Guantanamo's Camp Delta at the U.S. Naval Base in Guantanamo BayLucas Jackson/ ReutersA soldier monitors detainees movements within a cell block that is a part of Joint Task Force Guantanamo's Camp VI at the U.S. Naval Base in Guantanamo BayLucas Jackson/ ReutersImprovised weapons are displayed on a wall by Joint Task Force Guantanamo at the U.S. Naval Base in Guantanamo BayLucas Jackson/ ReutersSoldier are reflected in the window of Joint Task Force Guantanamo's Mental Health Unit at the U.S. Naval Base in Guantanamo BaLucas Jackson/ ReutersA pain chart with writing in Arabic hangs on the wall inside of Joint Task Force Guantanamo's detainee hospital at the U.S. Naval Base in Guantanamo BayLucas Jackson/ ReutersA soldier attached to Joint Task Force Guantanamo briefs visiting members of the media within Camp VI at the U.S. Naval Base in Guantanamo BayLucas Jackson/ ReutersA soldier attached to Joint Task Force Guantanamo stands in the detainee library at the U.S. Naval Base in Guantanamo BaLucas Jackson/ ReutersMedicines stand on shelves inside of Joint Task Force Guantanamo's detainee hospital at the U.S. Naval Base in Guantanamo BayLucas Jackson/ ReutersA sample cell is displayed within Joint Task Force Guantanamo's Camp VI at the U.S. Naval Base in Guantanamo BaLucas Jackson/ ReutersCopies of detainee artwork hangs on a wall within Joint Task Force Guantanamo's Camp DeltaLucas Jackson/ ReutersCopies of detainee artwork hangs on a wall within Joint Task Force Guantanamo's Camp DeltaLucas Jackson/ ReutersA sign identifies Joint Task Force Guantanamo's closed down Camp I at the U.S. Naval Base in Guantanamo BayLucas Jackson/ ReutersCopies of detainee artwork hangs on a wall within Joint Task Force Guantanamo's Camp DeltaLucas Jackson/ ReutersCopies of detainee artwork hangs on a wall within Joint Task Force Guantanamo's Camp DeltaLucas Jackson/ ReutersA soldier shows entertainment options that can be given to detainees held in Joint Task Force Guantanamo's library at the U.S. Naval Base in Guantanamo Bay, CubaLucas Jackson/ ReutersThe United States flag decorates the side of a guard tower inside of Joint Task Force Guantanamo Camp VI at the U.S. Naval Base in Guantanamo BayLucas Jackson/ ReutersSoldiers and members of the media stand outside of a large hanger inside of the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, in CubaLucas Jackson/ Reuters
