Obama Names First US Ambassador to Cuba in 5 Decades

The White House has announced President Barack Obama's pick for the first U.S. ambassador to Cuba in more than 50 years.

His name is Jeffrey DeLaurentis. He's currently the top diplomat at the recently reopened U.S. Embassy in Havana.

"Having an ambassador will make it easier to advocate for our interests, and will deepen our understanding even when we know that we will continue to have differences with the Cuban government," Obama said in a statement.

However, that nomination may not make it through Congress.

Senate confirmation is required, and some Republican senators oppose Obama's decision to normalize relations with communist Cuba. They have promised to block any ambassador nomination.

The senators argue Cuba has not earned the right to have restored diplomatic ties, citing lack of progress on democracy and human rights on the island. Among them are Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Marco Rubio, R-Fla., both with roots in Cuba.

Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro surprised the world in December 2014 by announcing they had held secret negotiations, and agreed to restore diplomatic relations.

The United States and Cuba severed diplomatic ties in 1961 amid the Cold War.