Diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Cuba have reached historic levels, and now President Obama says he would "very much" like to visit the island nation before the end of his presidency, but only under certain situations.
"I am very much interested in going to Cuba, but I think the conditions have to be right," the president told Yahoo News' Oliver Knox. "What I've said to the Cuban government is 'if, in fact, I, with confidence, can say that we're seeing some progress in the liberty and freedom and possibilities of ordinary Cubans, I'd love to use a visit as a way of highlighting that progress.' If we're going backwards, then there's not much reason for me to be there."
Obama indicated that he will make a decision about the visit "over the next several months."
"If I go on a visit, then part of the deal is that I get to talk to everybody," Obama said. "I've made very clear in my conversations directly with President [Raúl] Castro that we would continue to reach out to those who want to broaden the scope for, you know, free expression inside of Cuba. My hope is that sometime next year we look at the conditions there and we say, you know what? Now would be a good time to shine a light on progress that's been made, but also maybe to nudge the Cuban government in a new direction."
Obama's comments come one year after the administration announced it had held secret negotiations with the Cuban government and was preparing to reestablish full diplomatic relations, ending decades of severed tied that began during the Cold War. Both countries reopened embassies in each other's capitals, the U.S. removed Cuba from its list of state sponsors of terrorism and the two countries removed barriers to travel and business opportunities, according to the Guardian.
However, Castro, who took over as president for ailing brother Fidel, has said relations can only be fully normalized after the crippling U.S. trade embargo is ended, which only Congress can do, and after the Guantanamo Bay U.S. naval base is returned to Cuban control, reported Reuters.
Obama reaffirmed his intention to close the U.S. military prison before he leaves office, but said that the decision to return the land, which was seized in the Spanish-American War, would most likely be made by a future president.
Obama also praised Castro as a pragmatist and forward thinker, saying, "I do see in him a big streak of pragmatism. In that sense, I don't think he is an ideologue."
"I do also think that Raul Castro recognizes the need for change," Obama said. "And part of the reason for the timing of these changes is his desire to help usher in those changes before he and his brothers are gone. Because I think he views himself as having the stature to move Cuban society in ways that a successor might not."
