US/Cuba relations

LuisXV

@luisxv · 23 Apr 2022

US/Cuba relations

#yoorslocalnews The United States and Cuba agreed on Thursday, after resuming their bilateral dialogue on migration issues in Washington, to resume consular services in Havana. This is the first high-level meeting with the Miguel Diaz-Canel regime since Joe Biden arrived at the White House.

The decision involves the issuance of immigrant visas on a limited basis starting in May, current services for US citizens and the current issuance of emergency nonimmigrant visas.

“Enabling safe, legal, and orderly migration between Cuba and the United States is in our mutual interest; and it is consistent with the interests of the United States in promoting family reunification and promoting greater respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in Cuba,” the State Department said in a statement.

These meetings have been suspended since 2018, during the presidency of Donald Trump (2017-2021). The Republican reversed the historic process of rapprochement with the island launched by his predecessor, Barack Obama (2009-2017). In recent days, the US government has symbolically downplayed direct contacts between Washington and Havana.

Ned Price, a spokesman for the State Department, said at a press conference that the talks were focused exclusively on migration. He noted that there were areas of successful cooperation and obstacles were also identified to meet the objectives.

The US delegation was led by Emily Mendrala, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State of the Office of Western Hemisphere Affairs.