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Obama to become first US president to visit Cuba in 88 years

Friday, 19 Feb 2016 04:12:46

President Barack Obama will meet with Cuba's President Raul Castro during the March visit. (Reuters: Peru Presidency handout)

President Barack Obama has announced an historic visit to Cuba next month, speeding up the thaw in relations between the two Cold War former foes but igniting opposition from Republicans at home.

In the first US presidential trip to the Caribbean nation in nearly 90 years, Mr Obama will meet with Cuban President Raul Castro, entrepreneurs, and "Cubans from different walks of life" during the two-day trip in March.

After decades of animosity following Cuba's 1959 revolution, the two countries agreed in 2014 to move to reopen ties.

It was a diplomatic feat that is likely to be a highlight of Mr Obama's foreign policy legacy, along with the reaching of a nuclear deal with another long-time US foe, Iran.

Although the US economic embargo on Cuba remains in place, a presidential visit carries huge symbolic value and prestige.

The Havana visit is likely to spark debate on Cuba policy in the campaign for the US presidential election, particularly in the swing voting state of Florida, where many anti-Castro Cuban-Americans live.

"Pitiful that Obama rewards Castros with visit to Cuba while conditions for the Cuban people are getting worse," Cuban-American Republican congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen said.

Two candidates in the Republican race, Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, are conservative sons of Cuban immigrants and have criticised Mr Obama for renewing ties with Cuba.

Mr Obama said while the United States still has concerns about human rights in Cuba, it has already made significant progress in renewing relationships.

"We still have differences with the Cuban government that I will raise directly. America will always stand for human rights around the world," Mr Obama said.

The last sitting US president to visit Cuba was Calvin Coolidge in 1928.

US-Cuba relations continuing to grow

The Obama administration has taken steps to expand commerce with the island nation, only 145 kilometres from Florida.

Tourism has already surged. Online home-rental site Airbnb said US rentals of homes in Cuba are booming.

The countries have agreed to restore airline flights, and companies ranging from tractor manufacturers to telecommunications firms are assessing the market.

Mr Obama still seeks to pressure US lawmakers to remove the decades-old embargo on Cuba, but Republicans control Congress and are unlikely to act soon.

Republican Senator Jeff Flake from Arizona, who supports ending the sanctions, said the Obama visit could help open Cuba up to the world.

"For Cubans accustomed to watching their government sputter down the last mile of socialism in a '57 Chevy, imagine what they'll think when they see Air Force One," Mr Flake said.

"Just think of the progress that can come from one day allowing all freedom-loving Americans to travel to Cuba."

News of the trip was welcomed in Havana.

"Peace reigns in this hemisphere," house painter Jorge Felix said.

"These are two countries who have confronted each other for 50-something years, and on this occasion the visit of the US President to Cuba is reason for happiness and rejoicing."

First lady Michelle Obama will also go on the trip, which is taking place during the president's final year in office.

Reuters

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