WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The credentialing of Ambassador Rodriguez comes after the Obama administration announced its plans to normalize relations between the two countries in December 2014.
"[The] President participated in an Ambassador Credentialing Ceremony in the Oval Office," the White House said on Thursday. "At this event, the President received the credentials from foreign ambassadors recently posted in Washington. The presentation of credentials is a traditional ceremony that marks the formal beginning of an ambassador’s service in Washington."
The change in policy led to the implementation of revised regulations by the US Treasury Department to ease the US trade and travel embargo on Cuba.
In July, the United States resumed diplomatic relations with the island nation when the two countries reopened embassies in their respective capitals after five decades of hostilities.
