White House Announces Obama To Visit Cuba In March

US President Barack Obama and the First Lady will travel to Cuba on March 21 and 22, and Argentina on March 23 and 24, the White House said on Thursday.

According to a White House statement, in Cuba, President Obama will work to build on the progress made toward normalization of relations with Cuba – advancing commercial and people-to-people ties that can improve the well-being of the Cuban people, and expressing support for human rights.

In addition to holding a bilateral meeting with Cuban President Raul Castro, President Obama will engage with members of civil society, entrepreneurs and Cubans from different walks of life.

The White House said, “This historic visit – the first by a sitting U.S. President in nearly 90 years – is another demonstration of the President’s commitment to chart a new course for U.S.-Cuban relations and connect U.S. and Cuban citizens through expanded travel, commerce, and access to information.”

Relatedly, in Buenos Aires, the President and First Family will meet with the new Argentine President, Mauricio Macri, to discuss President Macri’s reform agenda and recognize his contributions to the defense of human rights in the region.

The White House said that President Obam will deepen efforts to increase cooperation between the two governments in a range of areas, including trade and investment, renewable energy and climate change, and citizen security.

It has been nearly two decades since the last bilaterally focused visit by a US President to Argentina, Latin America’s third largest country, the White House said.