LatinNews Daily - 13 February 2017

Cuba: On 4 February, after returning from a three-day visit to Cuba, the governor of the US state of Colorado, John Hickenlooper, stated that he believes that the Cuban government led by President Raúl Castro wants to further develop relations with the US under President Donald Trump. During his visit, Governor Hickenlooper met Josefina Vidal, the director of North American affairs at Cuba’s foreign ministry, and noted that she and other officials “seemed eager for the chance to build a relationship with President Trump and for it to be a constructive one”. The governor described the Cuban officials as “cautiously optimistic” and added that “they understand that some things could change, but I did not sense that there was any fear or type of depression”. Governor Hickenlooper said the purpose of his trip was to experience Cuba after the death of Fidel Castro and to invite the country to the Biennial of the Americas, an event held in Colorado that “connects business, cultural and civic interests from throughout the Americas”. Hickenlooper’s visit follows a 3 February press conference in which the new White House spokesperson, Sean Spicer, said that the Trump administration was “in the midst of a full review of all US policies towards Cuba”. Spicer also emphasised that President Trump’s chief concern was “ensuring human rights for all citizens throughout the world” and that human rights were at the forefront of policy discussions.

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