The U.S. on Monday sent its first commercial flight to Havana, Cuba, for the first time in more than 50 years, on the same day President-elect Trump threatened to reverse President Obama’s effort to re-establish ties between the two countries.
Obama’s policy change toward Cuba allowed the resumption of commercial flights between the two countries over the summer. But Monday’s was the first to land in Cuba’s capital, and Deputy Transportation Secretary Victor Mendez was on it.
“I had the privilege of joining the passengers and crew on that flight this morning as it left Miami and made the one-hour journey across the Florida Strait, marking another important milestone in our ongoing efforts to reengage with Cuba,” he said Monday morning.
The first of those U.S. flights to Cuban cities was on Aug. 31, and by this week, U.S. carriers will have completed almost 940 round-trip flights, according to the Department of Transportation.
Mendez hailed the flights as a way to show Obama’s “policy of re-engagement.”
However, Trump has warned that he might undo some of Obama’s effort if Cuba doesn’t match it with some domestic reforms, which could include some tighter rules on travel.
Conservatives have criticized Obama for easing some U.S. trade and travel restrictions, and re-establishing diplomatic ties, but without first getting Cuba to agree to improve its human rights regime, and possibly take steps toward democratic rule. Trump seemed to take a similar stance on Monday when he said he might “terminate” Obama’s effort.
“If Cuba is unwilling to make a better deal for the Cuban people, the Cuban/American people and the U.S. as a whole, I will terminate deal,” Trump said in a Monday morning tweet.
