WASHINGTON (CelebrityAccess) — The Trump administration on Tuesday imposed strict new travel restrictions on Cuba, banning cruise ships and a popular form of education travel in a bid to cut off income for the Island nation’s Communist government.
“Cuba remains communist, and the United States, under the previous administration, made too many concessions to one of our historically most aggressive adversaries,” said Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. “The Trump Administration recognizes the threat Cuba’s government poses in the region, and the Commerce Department is acting to limit commercial activity that provides revenue for the Cuban regime. Holding other countries accountable remains a focus for this Administration and we will remain vigilant.”
However, the changes do include a “grandfathering” provision which allows so-called educational travelers to use previously purchased items such as flights or hotel reservations if the purchase was made before June 4th, 2019.
The move is the latest blow to the thawing relationship between the U.S. and Cuba that began in May 2016 when Obama relaxed regulations on visiting Cuba from the U.S. Since then, Cuba has become a popular destination for travelers, especially on cruise ships, which offered visits that were largely free of federal regulations.
U.S. national security adviser John Bolton, who has been an outspoken critic of America’s warming relationship with its southern neighbor, confirmed the intent of the new policy in a post to his Twitter account.
The Administration has advanced the President’s Cuba policy by ending ‘veiled tourism’ to Cuba and imposing restrictions on vessels. We will continue to take actions to restrict the Cuban regime’s access to U.S. dollars. https://t.co/uwxd5qktKY
— John Bolton (@AmbJohnBolton) June 4, 2019
Cuba has continued to prop up the illegitimate Maduro regime in Venezuela and will be held responsible for this ongoing man-made crisis. President Trump has made it clear that we stand with the Cuban and Venezuelan people as they fight for freedom.
— John Bolton (@AmbJohnBolton) June 4, 2019
Similar sentiments were echoed by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, who told the Associated Press that the measures are in response to what he characterized as Cuba’s “destabilizing role” in the Western Hemisphere, which includes support for President Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela.
In April the U.S. backed a reported coup attempt by Juan Guaidó, president of the National Assembly of Venezuela, who was immediately recognized by 54 governments around the world, including the U.S., Canada, and Brazil, but not Cuba.
