US President Barack Obama begins his historic visit to Cuba on Sunday, the first visit to the island by a sitting US president since Calvin Coolidge in 1928.
So what will the Obamas be up to?
Continuing his trend of Medium pieces on Cuba, US White House Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications & Speechwriting released the Obamas’ itinerary late last week.
Here’s what’s in store:
Sunday, March 20
Old Havana Walking Tour
Obama and his family will visit Old Havana, including a trip to the Havana Cathedral and a meeting with Cardinal Ortega.
Monday, March 21
Jose Marti Memorial
Obama will lay a wreath at the memorial of Jose Marti, the legendary Cuban poet, theorist and champion of Cuba’s independence, in what is a standard practice for every visiting head of state to Cuba.
Discussion on Entrepreneurship and Opportunity
Obama will be meeting with Cuban entrepreneurs, or what are called “cuentapropistas,” to hear their experiences. Some American entrepreneurs will also be on hand to share their experiences and “build long-term relationships.”
Bilateral Meetings and State Dinner
This will involve a bilateral meeting with Cuba President Raul Castro at the Revolutionary Palace, including talks on the continued process of normalization.
Tuesday, March 22
Meeting with members of civil society
Obama will be meeting with a group of Cuban civil society, including human rights activists; Rhodes wrote that the White House and government “continue to have strong disagreements with the Cuban government on these issues.”
Remarks to the Cuban people
Obama will make a public address at the Alicia Alonso Grand Theater with the aim to “lay out his vision for the future relationship between our two countries, and the extraordinary potential of the Cuban people,” Rhodes said. Obama will be making the remarks at the same theater that Coolidge visited in 1928.
Baseball
As Cuba Journal was first to report, Obama will then attend a high-profile exhibition between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Cuban National Team at Estadio Latinoamericano.
