WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The US government on Wednesday lifted a series of restrictions on flights to Cuba by former President Donald Trump.
The US Department of Transportation (USDOT) issued the order at the request of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who said it was “to support the Cuban people and US foreign policy interests.”
The White House signaled a change of attitude last month as part of a broader review of Cuban policy under President Joe Biden. Flight restrictions were lifted immediately.
The Trump administration introduced a series of aviation restrictions in 2019 and 2020 to increase the US economic pressure on the Cuban government.
Under President Trump, the Department of Transportation capped charter flights to Cuba from 3,600 per year and subsequently suspended charter flights to Cuba. The ministry also banned charter flights to any Cuban airport outside of Havana.
The then Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, said Cuba “used tourism and travel funds to finance its violations and interventions in Venezuela”. Dictators Can’t Take Advantage of US Tourism?
source: Noticias
