The Trump administration said it will place a ban on private charter flights between the United States and Cuba this fall.
The decision, revealed by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday, is the latest move by the Trump administration walking back former President Barack Obama’s efforts to reopen ties with the Caribbean island nation.
Pompeo noted certain public charters deemed to be in the interest of the U.S., such as those used for search-and-rescue missions and emergency medical purposes, would still be allowed.
“The suspension of private charter flights will deny economic resources to the Castro regime and inhibit its capacity to carry out abuses,” he said in a statement.
“Unfortunately, the Castro regime has not changed its repressive and undemocratic behavior,” Pompeo said. “It continues to imprison journalists and democracy activists, to oversee horrific physical abuse, to perpetuate the de facto dictatorship in Venezuela, to repress freedom of religion or belief, and to silence and intimidate those who speak truth about the reality in Cuba.”
The ban will take effect on Oct. 13.
