In a major step towards re-establishing diplomatic ties, the US and Cuba announced opening of embassies in each other’s capitals.
In December 2014, the two Presidents of the US and Cuba agreed to normalise relations and sought to re-establish diplomatic ties.
Historical sequence of events :
- US broke off diplomatic relations with Cuba in 1959
- Cuba is still subject to a US arms embargo which has been in place since 1962
- Since 1977, the US and Cuba have operated diplomatic missions called “interests sections” in each other’s capitals under the legal protection of Switzerland
- The US and Cuba agreed to normalise relations at the end of 2014
Since the US State Department has to give Congress two weeks’ warning before the embassy opens, it is expected that the embassy may open by mid July.
