President Obama spoke with Cuban President Raul Castro ahead of the two leaders coming face-to-face in Panama Friday.
“I can confirm that President Obama spoke with President Castro on Wednesday, before President Obama departed Washington,” a White House official said of the call, which came before the start Friday of the Summit of the Americas in Panama.
Obama is expected to encounter Castro in Panama for the first time since announcing the restoring of diplomatic ties between the U.S. and the island nation.
The White House Friday said that Obama and Castro would “have the opportunity to see each other at the summit [Saturday] to have a discussion.”
It is also possible the leaders could exchange pleasantries Friday night, but the White House said it did not expect much beyond a quick greeting at that time.
Obama has not seen Castro in person since a brief handshake between the two at the funeral for Nelson Mandela in South Africa.
During the summit, Obama is expected to announce that he will remove Cuba from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism.
The Cuban government demanded such a concession before both nations proceed with opening embassies in Washington and Cuba.
