Diplomat Benjamin G. Ziff, who served as the acting ambassador at the U.S. Embassy in Cuba, has concluded his mission in Havana. To bid farewell, he released a heartfelt video reflecting on his experiences on the Caribbean island. "In Cuba, I've had unforgettable moments. I leave the island with a tremendous impression of how beautiful Cuba is and how wonderful its people are," Ziff expressed in a video shared on the U.S. diplomatic mission's social media channels in the Cuban capital.
Throughout his tenure, Ziff played a pivotal role in restructuring the embassy, enhancing its staff, and broadening its activities. "We have started to expand our cultural and artistic relations with the people," he noted. One significant achievement during his time in office was reinstating the immigrant visa process at the Havana consulate, addressing a longstanding request from many Cubans seeking to immigrate to the United States. "We work daily to expand legal and safe migration pathways," he emphasized.
Efforts to Support Private Enterprise
Regarding the private sector in Cuba, Ziff acknowledged the challenges in creating opportunities for entrepreneurs. "We believe that entrepreneurship is the key to prosperity and the future for the Cuban people," he remarked.
Ziff officially took on the role on July 14, 2022, succeeding Timothy Zúñiga-Brown, who served from July 2020. Prior to his arrival in Havana, Ziff's extensive experience included his role as director of the Migration Task Force at the Western Hemisphere Affairs Bureau of the State Department, where he coordinated migration policy and strategy for the region until 2021.
Diplomatic Challenges and Infrastructure Developments
During his service, Ziff was involved in several migration-related meetings between Washington and Havana amid one of Cuba's most severe migration crises. Moreover, under his leadership, the U.S. Embassy building in Havana began a $28 million renovation after being closed for nearly five years due to the so-called "Havana Syndrome." However, the project has faced hurdles due to logistical issues and political tensions with the Cuban regime. "Diplomacy is not just about politics; it's about logistics. You need to have a presence. You need people. You need a building," Ziff told Reuters at the time.
This year, Cuba's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINREX) summoned him for consultations to protest against demonstrations in Santiago de Cuba, which were mirrored in other cities across the country in March. The Cuban government accused the U.S. of funding the protests and spreading "slanderous messages... concerning Cuba's internal affairs."
Ziff was the seventeenth head of the U.S. mission in Havana since its reopening in 1977. The head of the diplomatic mission in Havana does not hold the rank of ambassador because the U.S. Senate has not confirmed an ambassadorial appointment since the embassy's reopening in 2015. Following Biden's election, appointing an ambassador to Cuba has not been prioritized.