Fidel Castro’s death will not likely to slow US efforts toward Cuba: White House

Flowers placed by members of Mexico’s communist party lay on an image of late Cuban President Fidel Castro, outside the Cuban embassy in Mexico City, late Saturday, Nov. 26, 2016. Castro, who led a rebel army to improbable victory in Cuba, embraced Soviet-style communism and defied the power of 10 U.S. presidents during his half century rule, died in Cuba on Friday at age 90. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

The death of Cuba’s Fidel Castro is unlikely to slow down US efforts to normalize relations with its Cold War enemy, the White House said on Monday, pointing to the economic impact of the diplomatic thaw already underway such as commercial flights and other growing ties.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters at a daily briefing on Monday that any move to unwind the normalizing relations between the United States and Cuba over the past two years “would deal a significant economic blow” to Cuban citizens.