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| US bans cruise ship travel to Cuba amid new restrictions | US bans cruise ship travel to Cuba amid new restrictions |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The US has announced a new ban on travel to Cuba for American group tours as well as cruise ships journeying to the island. | The US has announced a new ban on travel to Cuba for American group tours as well as cruise ships journeying to the island. |
| The move, which was announced by Trump administration officials, intends to roll back a US-Cuba thaw that began under President Barack Obama. | The move, which was announced by Trump administration officials, intends to roll back a US-Cuba thaw that began under President Barack Obama. |
| It is unclear exactly how the rules, which take effect on Wednesday, will impact travel to the island nation. | |
| US officials say the new rules seek to punish the country's communist regime. | US officials say the new rules seek to punish the country's communist regime. |
| US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement on Tuesday the measures come in response to Cuban efforts "to play a destabilising role in the Western Hemisphere, providing a communist foothold in the region and propping up US adversaries in places like Venezuela and Nicaragua by fomenting instability, undermining the rule of law, and suppressing democratic processes". | US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement on Tuesday the measures come in response to Cuban efforts "to play a destabilising role in the Western Hemisphere, providing a communist foothold in the region and propping up US adversaries in places like Venezuela and Nicaragua by fomenting instability, undermining the rule of law, and suppressing democratic processes". |
| "This administration has made a strategic decision to reverse the loosening of sanctions and other restrictions on the Cuban regime," Mr Mnuchin said. | "This administration has made a strategic decision to reverse the loosening of sanctions and other restrictions on the Cuban regime," Mr Mnuchin said. |
| "These actions will help to keep US dollars out of the hands of Cuban military, intelligence, and security services." | "These actions will help to keep US dollars out of the hands of Cuban military, intelligence, and security services." |
| US tourism to Cuba is not permitted, but certain forms of organised group travel, known as "people-to-people" travel, had been allowed until Tuesday's announcement. | US tourism to Cuba is not permitted, but certain forms of organised group travel, known as "people-to-people" travel, had been allowed until Tuesday's announcement. |
| Commercial travel can continue, as long as the trips "broadly support family travel and other lawful forms of travel", a US State Department spokesperson added, but other vessels such as private yachts or planes are banned. | Commercial travel can continue, as long as the trips "broadly support family travel and other lawful forms of travel", a US State Department spokesperson added, but other vessels such as private yachts or planes are banned. |
| Cruise ship companies have not yet reacted to the news, but Norwegian Cruise Lines tweeted to one concerned customer: "We are closely monitoring these recent developments and any resulting impact to cruise travel to Cuba. | Cruise ship companies have not yet reacted to the news, but Norwegian Cruise Lines tweeted to one concerned customer: "We are closely monitoring these recent developments and any resulting impact to cruise travel to Cuba. |
| "We will communicate to our guests and travel partners as additional information becomes available." | "We will communicate to our guests and travel partners as additional information becomes available." |
| Cuban government statistics show that Americans have become the second largest group of visitors to the island, after Canadians - with more arriving by ship than plane. | Cuban government statistics show that Americans have become the second largest group of visitors to the island, after Canadians - with more arriving by ship than plane. |
| Americans who have already booked "at least one travel related transaction" - such as purchasing a flight - will still be allowed to continue their travel, US officials say. | Americans who have already booked "at least one travel related transaction" - such as purchasing a flight - will still be allowed to continue their travel, US officials say. |
| White House national security adviser John Bolton outlined plans for sanctions earlier this year, referring to Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua as a "troika of tyranny". | White House national security adviser John Bolton outlined plans for sanctions earlier this year, referring to Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua as a "troika of tyranny". |
| In a tweet on Tuesday, he said the new rule means "ending 'veiled tourism' to Cuba". | In a tweet on Tuesday, he said the new rule means "ending 'veiled tourism' to Cuba". |
| In a statement, US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross added: "Cuba remains communist, and the United States, under the previous administration, made too many concessions to one of our historically most aggressive adversaries." | In a statement, US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross added: "Cuba remains communist, and the United States, under the previous administration, made too many concessions to one of our historically most aggressive adversaries." |
| Cuban Minister of Foreign Affairs Bruno RodrÃguez Parrilla, who travelled to Washington in 2015 to re-open the Cuban embassy, criticised the latest move as "an attack on international law", adding that it was "aimed at suffocating" the country's economy. | Cuban Minister of Foreign Affairs Bruno RodrÃguez Parrilla, who travelled to Washington in 2015 to re-open the Cuban embassy, criticised the latest move as "an attack on international law", adding that it was "aimed at suffocating" the country's economy. |
| The White House announced in April that Cuban-Americans and US businesses could sue companies who use or own property that was seized from Americans during the 1959 Cuban Revolution. | The White House announced in April that Cuban-Americans and US businesses could sue companies who use or own property that was seized from Americans during the 1959 Cuban Revolution. |