Until recently, American politicians visiting Cuba would regularly stop off to meet with members of the island nation’s dissident community, as a gesture of respect and solidarity.

According to an Associated Press report Thursday, in the seven months since the relationship between the United States and Cuba began to thaw, “American politicians have flooded Havana to see the sights, meet the country’s new entrepreneurs and discuss the possible end of the U.S. trade embargo with leaders of the communist government.”