The Obama administration has formally extended the US embargo of Cuba. In a memo last week, President Obama authorized a one-year extension of Cuba’s designation as a hostile nation under the Trading with the Enemy Act. The memo says continuing the embargo is “in the national interest of the United States.” Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez criticized Obama’s stance.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez: “Obama was a president elected on the platform of change. North Americans voted for him because he promised to make changes. Where is the change on the Cuban embargo? There are no changes. It’s true there is less aggression, a less aggressive discourse against Cuba. It’s true these specific measures have been taken, but of extremely limited reach, totally insufficient, that don’t have anything to do with the embargo against Cuba.”

Obama recently eased some restrictions on Cuba, now allowing Cuban Americans to travel and send remittances there.