Obama declines to send official delegation to Fidel Castro’s funeral

US President Barack Obama has decided not to send a presidential delegation to Havana for the funeral of Fidel Castro, Cuba's former leader, The Washington Post reported.

Instead of an official delegation, the White House will send one of the president's top foreign policy advisers and its top diplomat on the island to the ceremony.

Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes, who played a central role in negotiations with the Cubans, will attend Castro's funeral. 

Rhodes “was already planning to travel to Cuba this week” for meetings with the Cuban government, said White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest. 

Jeffrey DeLaurentis, a career diplomat who has headed the US diplomatic mission in Havana since last summer, will also attend.

“There is a formal process where the president will delegate a delegation … that will not be taking place this time,” Earnest said.

Earnest said the decision not to send a delegation reflects the complicated relationship with Cuba, characterized by “turmoil.” Sending Rhodes and DeLaurentis to the funeral reflects the United States' ongoing human rights concerns balanced against the administration's desire to build “an ongoing future relationship with the Cuban people,” Earnest said.

Source: MENA