Following the announcement of the historic decision by US President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro on Wednesday to lift the economic embargo and restore diplomatic relations between the two countries, the White House leaves open the possibility of an Obama visit to Havana in the near future.

The possibility of an Obama visit to Cuba down the line was also mentioned by White House spokesman Josh Earnest: “The president did hint that there will be senior government officials who will carry out the kind of work that’s indicative of two nations that are seeking to normalize their relations. So, I certainly wouldn’t rule out a presidential visit. But I don’t have anything to announce at this point,” Mr. Earnest said.

In the meantime, 65-year-old American contractor Alan Gross who was released yesterday from a Cuban prison where he had been held for five years, has arrived in the U.S. and he is enjoying his new found freedom, thanks to this deal.

Reactions in the US

While the majority of the American people agree with Obama’s decision, yesterday’s announcement has divided the political scene of the country, with Republicans expressing doubts and calling the US President’s deal a “mindless concession”.

The decision to restore diplomatic relations between US and Cuba was welcomed by the Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who is widely considered the Democratic frontrunner in the 2016 presidential elections. On the other hand, Republican nominee Jeb Bush, former Florida Governor, characterized the move a foreign policy misstep that undermines America’s credibility.

“Cuba is a dictatorship with a disastrous human rights record, and now President Obama has rewarded those dictators. We should instead be fostering efforts that will truly lead to the fair, legitimate democracy that will ultimately prevail in Cuba, Mr. Bush said in his official statement.