President Donald Trump announced the re-introduction of part of the Cuban travel and trade restrictions after his predecessor, Barack Obama, warmed up relations with the communist island. Trump announced the restrictions regarding traveling to individuals on this island. The US Federal Ministry of Finance and other agencies are introducing regulations that will prohibit direct payments to Cuban military and intelligence services, in an inauguration speech in Miami, US administration officials revealed.
This not an attack on the Cuban people
The goal of this move is a critique of the repressive elements of the Cuban regime because of its relationship with human rights, and not an attack on the Cuban people, US administration officials explained to the journalists under the condition that they remain anonymous.
The US authorities are planning to apply the existing ban on tourist trips to that island by abolishing individual voyages that were allowed under Obama. Other categories of travel will continue to be allowed, such as visiting families in Cuba and educational exchanges. The aim is not to damage the US companies that have been on the Cuban market under Obama's relationship with Havan so, airline companies, cruisers, and other companies will be excluded from the ban.
"We want this relationship to be such as to encourage the Cuban people through economic interaction. This process has begun and can not be stopped," one official pointed out.
The Cuban government on Friday condemned President Donald Trump's decision to strengthen the blockade of the island, saying it is a step back in US-Cuban relations.
The Cuban government added that this move will not endanger the Cuban revolution. In a statement released on Friday evening, the government reiterated its readiness to "continue dialogue and co-operation on issues of mutual interest, with mutual respect".
No more silence when it comes to communist oppression
President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he has decided to introduce stricter restrictions on Cuba's travel and restrict Cuban operations, saying he would cancel the agreement with Havan by his predecessor, Barack Obama.
Talking about a new policy towards Cuba in a speech in Miami, Trump signed a presidential bid to abolish parts of Obama's historic opening to Cuba after a diplomatic break in 2014. However, he has not completely interrupted diplomatic relations that were rebuilt in 2015 after more than 50 years of hostilities.
He allowed many Obama's changes to stay, including the US Embassy in Havana, although he tried to show that he fulfills his pre-election promise to take a stubborn stance on Cuba, especially when it comes to respecting human rights.
"We will no longer be silent on communist oppression," he said. "I'm canceling a completely unilateral agreement with Cuba, which the former administration has concluded," he said. His approach foresees a stricter implementation of the long-standing ban on Cuba's tourist trips and wants to prevent US dollars being financed by a repressive Cuban government dominated by the military. The new policy forbids most business transactions with the Cuban conglomerate Armed Forces Business Enterprises Group, which is active in all sectors of the economy, but with some exceptions, including air and sea travel, US officials said. Trump has promised that US sanctions will not be lifted until Cuba releases all political prisoners and holds free elections.
