President Barack Obama made a bold move last week when he made the surprise announcement that the United States was renewing diplomatic ties with Cuba.
On Wednesday, Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro made the historic announcement that Washington and Havana will restore full diplomatic relations and exchange ambassadors for the first time since January 1961, following the Cuban government’s nationalization of U.S. holdings on the island.
The announcement comes more than half a century after the United States broke off diplomatic relations with Cuba and imposed an economic blockade on the Caribbean island nation and began efforts to overthrow the Cuban government.
The president also said the State Department would review Cuba’s designation as a “state sponsor of terrorism.”
The economic embargo remains largely in effect and can only be changed by Congress.
Still Obama is using executive authority to ease restrictions on travel by U.S. citizens to Cuba and the amount of cash Cuban émigrés are allowed to send to Cuba is to be increased (from $500 every three months to $2,000). In addition, banking ties will be expanded, with U.S. travelers allowed for the first time to use credit cards issued by American banks.
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