One more...

Following the embargo applied against Cuba in 1962 during the missile crisis, continued antagonism between Castro and the Kennedy/Johnson administrations inclined toward a "you go your way, we'll go ours" philosophy in trade. The embargo remained, and Castro was able to fall back almost entirely on the USSR and communist block for trade and needed supplies. The Cuban people did quite well with this support, and the American sanctions did not weigh heavily until the collapse of the USSR. At this point Castro found himself isolated, and many of the current deprivation began to take its toll. I don't think that US sanctions can be blamed for all of Cuba's miseries, and particularly for Castro's continued dictatorship, during the 1962-1988 time frame, since he had Russia to rely on.