WASHINGTON, January 23 (Sputnik) — MasterCard will unblock US-issued credit card activities in Cuba starting March following the recent improvement in relations between Washington and Havana, the US-based international finance corporation announced on its website on Friday.
“Today, MasterCard announced it is removing the current block on U.S.-issued card transactions in Cuba as of March 1, 2015,” the company said in a statement.
“MasterCard will work with its U.S. issuers to support their Cuba-related activities and decisions,” the statement from the company read. “Before traveling to Cuba, U.S. cardholders should contact their bank to ensure the card will be supported on the island.”
In December 2014, US President Barack Obama announced that he was taking major steps to normalize diplomatic relations with Cuba by easing travel, trade restrictions and reopening a US embassy in Havana.
Despite the President Obama’s diplomatic move, Cuban President Raul Castro said that his country’s new dialogue with the United States, that the leader would not abandon his political ideals.
Following President Obama’s announcement a month later, the US Department of Treasury implemented revised regulations which began easing the US trade and travel policies towards Cuba.
However, Republican lawmakers including US House Speaker John Boehner, have continuously criticized President Obama’s intention to normalize relations with Havana, arguing that it would reward ‘a totalitarian regime."
Since 1961, the United States has held an embargo against Cuba, which was originally put in place as a result of 20th century Cold War antagonism between Washington and the Communist government in Havana.
