This year’s Summit of the Americas may prove to be an historic occasion- a major step in the restoration of ties between Cuba and the rest of the world. For decades, Cubans have been barred from joining the two-day meeting in which heads of state from all the other countries in the Western Hemisphere appear. Now, amidst the thaw in relations between American President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro, it has been announced that at last Cuba will partake in the event.

“Our shift in policy toward Cuba comes at a moment of renewed leadership in the Americas. This April, we are prepared to have Cuba join the other nations of the hemisphere at the Summit of the Americas,” said Obama.

The US isolation of Cuba has for many years been a point of contention between America and the rest of the Americas. At the 2012 summit in Cartagena, Columbia (best remembered for a scandal involving US Secret Service agents and prostitutes), other leaders protested the forced exclusion of Cuba from the deliberations.

Some say that Washington’s actions are an attempt to restore the country’s preeminence in Latin America. Between the recent weakness of the US economy and the harsh rhetoric against many Latinos living in the States, Latin American countries have increasingly turned to China for support.

It must be remembered that the United States still considers Cuba a state sponsor of terrorism and therefore the two countries cannot fully engage with one another. Obama has been trying to remove Cuba from the terrorist list but is facing opposition. Havana’s inclusion in this year’s Summit is largely symbolic.

“It has enormous symbolism over the last 50 years as the country that has been isolated by the United States, squeezed by the United States, not treated as a sovereign nation. So for Latin Americans, that’s very, very important,” said Michael Shifter, head of the Inter-America Dialogue in Washington.

Latin American countries have responded enthusiastically to the announcement that Cuba will be in attendance this year.

“Some countries reacted with joy, perhaps other more wisely, but ultimately Panama’s decision was well received and has not had a single country that has said it will not be present,” said Panamanian Foreign Minister Isabel de Saint Malo in an interview to a local newspaper.

“The citizens from all American countries, regardless of the policy position of their rulers, have the same concerns, aspirations and desires, which are better days for their families, children and grandchildren,” said de Saint Malo. “The issue of Venezuela has been discussed in the Organization of American States (OAS) and it is recognized as a topic that is the focus of the region in this moment, but it is not that of the Summit.”