Democratic lawmakers visit Havana and meet with the Cuban President

HAVANA (AP) – A delegation of at least three U.S. lawmakers visited Havana this week and met with the Cuban government, U.S. and Cuban officials confirmed.

Rep. James McGovern (D-MA), Mark Pocan (D-WI) and Troy Carter (D-LA) met with Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, leaders in the Cuban Congress and his Secretary of State, the US Embassy announced in Cuba with the Associated Press on Sunday.

It’s one of only a handful of such visits to the island in recent decades. While officials gave few details about the discussions, Díaz-Canel and Cuba’s Congress tweeted photos of the meetings.

One photo shows Rep. McGovern shaking hands with the Cuban leader and another shows the politicians meeting with other Cuban officials.

Recibí a delegación del Congreso de EEUU presidida by James McGovern. Abordamos nuestras diferencias y temas de interés común. It is ratified the voluntad compartida de mejorar las bilateral relations. Express la necesidad de poner fin a medidas que dañan a la población cubana. pic.twitter.com/qNWbxvJwCd

— Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez (@DiazCanelB) December 10, 2022

“We addressed our differences and issues of common interest. We have reiterated our readiness to improve bilateral relations,” Díaz-Canel tweeted on Saturday, also stressing the importance of ending the US government’s six-decade trade embargo on the island.

The meeting follows a series of visits by Biden administration officials in recent months to discuss migration. The talks mark a gradual easing of tensions that were eased during the Obama administration and exacerbated under the Trump administration.

Cuba is facing the biggest exodus from the island in a decade, fueled by deepening economic, energy and political crises.

In the past year, arrivals of Cubans at the US-Mexico border have skyrocketed, and a growing number of boats full of migrants have been found off the Florida coast.

In October, Cubans overtook Venezuelans as the second largest nationality after the arrival of Mexicans at the border. U.S. authorities have stopped Cubans 28,848 times, up 10% from the previous month, the latest data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection shows.

It also comes weeks before the US plans to resume visa and consular services on the island, which stalled after a series of health incidents involving American diplomats in 2017.