In the middle of a pandemic, the United States suspended private charter flights to Cuba as a measure to increase pressure and cut off funds going to the Cuban government, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced Thursday.
"I requested that the Department of Transportation suspend private charter flights to all Cuban airports, including Havana," Pompeo said in a statement.
"This action will suspend all charter flights between the United States and Cuba over which the Department of Transportation exercises jurisdiction, except for authorized public charter flights to and from Havana and other authorized private charter flights for emergency medical purposes, search and rescue, and other travel deemed in the interest of the United States," the statement said.
Pompeo said the canceling of flights would deny resources that the Cuban government could use to continue repressing journalists and activists.
