US Embassy in Havana. File photoWASHINGTON, May 17 The US is working to expand its diplomatic presence in Cuba, a senior administration official said. The closure of the embassy and the withdrawal of a significant number of US diplomats from Cuba occurred in December 2018 under President Donald Trump. He then referred to the health incidents of the diplomatic staff, which were called «Havana Syndrome.» «We are working to increase staff and strengthen security at the embassy in Havana,» the official said during a telephone briefing. corresponding order of the President of the United States. Relations between the two countries began to improve under Democratic President Barack Obama. During the two presidential terms of Obama, diplomatic relations were restored, trade and cultural exchanges were resumed, and American travel to Cuba was again allowed. This culminated in 2015's removal of Cuba from the list of terrorism accomplices, as well as Obama's 2016 visit to Havana «Thaw» ended with the arrival of Donald Trump in the White House. He reintroduced restrictions on trade and business relations between the two countries, and in 2021, shortly before the end of his presidential term, Trump returned Cuba to the list of countries that are facilitators of terrorism. In early May, the US Embassy in Havana reported that after a break of several years, it resumed processing applications for the issuance of immigrant visas to citizens of Cuba. During this period, citizens of the island nation who wished to migrate to the United States were forced to personally apply to submit documents to the American missions in Colombia and Guyana. The State Department announced the expansion of support for Cubans, including the issuance of visas
