US Won't Push for Normalization of Ties With Cuba Before Trump's Inauguration

The US-Cuban bilateral commission meetings are not focused on accelerating the normalization of relations before President-elect Donald Trump takes office, Department of State spokesman Mark Toner said in a briefing on Tuesday.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Toner said that meetings ia an opportunity for the parties to review reached progress.

"It is another opportunity to review progress… that has been made since we made the decision to reestablish diplomatic relations with Cuba," Toner stated. "Is this an acceleration? Not at all… this is a long-scheduled meeting."

The United States and Cuba, Toner noted, are holding their fifth bilateral commission meeting on Wednesday in Havana to review progress on range of priorities including migration, law enforcement, civil aviation and economic issues.

Last week, Trump threatened to undo any "deal" that the United States has made with Cuba if Havana fails to take steps to improve the lives of its people.

In December 2014, outgoing US President Barack Obama announced that the United States would normalize relations with Cuba after more than 50 years of non-engagement and hostilities.