Americans want to restart relations with Cuba: Poll

A majority of Americans back restoring diplomatic relations with Cuba, as well as lifting trade and travel restrictions with the country, according to a new poll.

A Washington Post/ABC News poll published on Tuesday shows that 64 percent of Americans want to restart diplomatic ties with Cuba.

Among the pollsters, Democrats were significantly more likely to support a shift in foreign policy toward the country — 77 percent, compared to Republicans – 49 percent.

Democrats were also more supportive of lifting travel and trade bans on Cuba.

Seventy-nine percent of Democrats support removing the trade embargo, compared to 57 percent of Republicans.

Removing travel restrictions is even more popular; 85 percent of Democrats and 64 percent of Republicans want unrestricted travel to Cuba.

US President Barack Obama made the historic announcement of starting talks with Cuba to normalize full diplomatic relations, marking the most significant shift in US foreign policy towards the country in over 50 years.

However, Obama said at a year-end news conference on Friday that the decades-long trade embargo on Havana would not be lifted soon.

“I think that ultimately we need to go ahead and pull down the embargo, which I think has been self-defeating in advancing the aims that we’re interested in,” Obama said. “But I don’t anticipate that that happens right away.”