Donald Trump Revises U.S. Policies on Cuba

Donald Trump, the President of the United States, on Friday revised U.S. policies regarding Cuba, canceling the previous administration's agreement with Cuba and ordering stricter limitations on American citizens' travel to the country and trade with the Cuban military. According to Reuters, the U.S. President, speaking in Miami, Florida, signed a new executive order outlining the new U.S. policy on Cuba, which retreats from parts of the historic actions taken by Barack Obama's administration to restore relations with Cuba, although some measures, including the reopening of embassies, will remain in place. Meanwhile, in his remarks in Miami, Mr. Trump emphasized that the U.S. government will "no longer remain silent in the face of cruel communist actions." He stated, "From this moment, I am canceling the completely one-sided agreement of the previous administration with Cuba." Trump's new approach, presented in the form of an executive order, will be stricter regarding American tourists traveling to Cuba and will prevent investment in the country, which the Trump administration describes as under military and oppressive government control. The new U.S. policy prohibits most business transactions with investment groups linked to the Cuban military, which participates in various economic sectors of the country, but according to U.S. officials, exceptions will be made for air and sea travel to Cuba. In this regard, Mr. Trump said that we do not want U.S. dollars to support a monopoly government that exploits and abuses its citizens. He emphasized that such restrictions will continue until Cuba releases political prisoners and holds free elections. At the same time, according to CNN, Donald Trump urged Raul Castro's government to come to the negotiating table with a new agreement that would best serve the interests of the Cuban and American people. He also warned the Castro government that the era of sheltering criminals and fugitives has come to an end, and they will have no other options. CNN noted that on the eve of the announcement of the new U.S. policies, Cuban officials, including President Raul Castro, expressed their eagerness to negotiate with the Trump administration. In this context, a Cuban official told CNN that they understand that the U.S. has a different perspective on the world. At the time of the announcement of the new U.S. policies regarding Cuba, Republican Senator Marco Rubio, who had encouraged the U.S. government to adopt tougher policies in this area in recent months, accompanied Donald Trump. According to Mr. Rubio, "A year and a half ago, a U.S. president reached out his hands to the Cuban government in Havana, but today the new president in Miami has extended his hands to the people of Cuba."