Jimmy Carter visited Cuba in 2002 – two decades after leaving office.
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Though Obama had always been expected to visit Cuba in his final year, word of his travel plans drew immediate resistance from opponents of warmer ties with Cuba including Republican presidential candidates.
A United States official, asked about the prospects for a March visit by Obama, declined to discuss the timing for such a trip.
U.S. President Barack Obama (R) shakes hands with Cuban leader Raul Castro asUnited NationsSecretary-GeneralBan Ki-moonlooks on before the opening of the 7th Summit of the Americas in Panama City, capital of Panama, on April 10, 2015.
Following secret negotiations between the US and Cuba, Obama and Cuban President Raúl Castro announced the restoration of diplomatic relations in December 2014. The announcement will come only two days after the USA and Cuba signed an agreement that restores commercial air traffic between their two countries for the first time in 50 years.
Last year, Obama also advocated the removal of Cuba from the US blacklist of nations that sponsor terrorism.
“She escaped jail, fled to Cuba”.
“We can confirm that tomorrow the administration will announce the president’s travel to Latin America, including Cuba, in the coming weeks”, the official said.
Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, both Cuban-Americans who are seeking the Republican presidential nomination and have been sharply critical of Mr. Obama’s policy.
Obama’s visit will be the first since President Calvin Coolidge delivered a speech at the Pan-American Conference in 1928. Currently, there are about one-fifth as many flights operating between the two countries all charters.
USA travelers, who previously were required to adhere to strict conditions for visits to Cuba, are now able to apply for a broad range of travel licenses, included trips for cultural exchanges and humanitarian work.
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“What I said to the Cuban government is” If we clearly see the progress on the liberties of ordinary Cubans, I’d love to go over there to put these in light progress “, he declared in December with Yahoo! President Truman visited Guantanamo Bay, which is controlled by the United States, so that was not considered a visit to the country; he didn’t meet with any Cuban government officials, according to his presidential library.
