Breaking: The U.S. and Cuba Will Open Embassies Later This Month

After reaching an agreement to open embassies in Washington and Havana on Tuesday, President Obama made it official this morning.

In a letter sent to the Cuban foreign ministry, Obama explained the two countries agreed to re-establish diplomatic relations, which had been strained since the Cold War, and will open their respective embassies on July 20. Last December, Obama and President Raúl Castro agreed to begin restoring ties between their countries, then formally met in April in Panama, marking the most significant interaction between U.S. and Cuban leaders in five decades.

Though obstacles, such as lifting the U.S. trade embargo against Cuba, remain, Obama is determined to change America's relationship with Cuba, despite the island's human rights record and longtime isolation. To that end, the U.S. has loosened some travel restrictions to Cuba and paved the way for new economic ties. The U.S. also removed Cuba from its list of state sponsors of terror in June.

Jill Krasny

Senior Writer

Jill Krasny is a senior writer for Esquire where she covers lifestyle, books and general news. Prior to joining Esquire, she wrote for Inc. Magazine and was an editor at TheStreet. She is a graduate of the University of Southern California with a major in Communication.