HAVANA, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez met with visiting U.S. Senator Bob Corker on Wednesday to discuss the current situation in ties between the Caribbean nation and the United States.
According to a brief release from the Cuban Foreign Ministry, Rodriguez and Corker met at an undisclosed location to talk about "issues related to the current situation in bilateral links and other topics of reciprocal interest."
Corker, Chairman of Senate Foreign Relations Committee, traveled for the second time to Havana for his "interest in exchanging with local authorities about U.S.-Cuba relations." He was accompanied by two of his legislative assistants this time.
Last week, the U.S. Senator met with a Cuban delegation of scientists that visited Washington to discuss alleged health incidents that affected U.S. diplomats in the island.
Bilateral ties suffered a serious setback after U.S. president Donald Trump assumed office in 2017, rolling back thawing relations reestablished by his predecessor, Barack Obama.
Last year, Trump signed a presidential memorandum prohibiting U.S. companies from doing business with firms associated with Cuba's military and restricting U.S. citizens from traveling to the Caribbean nation.
Relations were also hampered by alleged attacks on U.S. diplomats on the island which led to the partial closure of the U.S. embassy in Havana and the expulsion of 15 Cuban diplomats in Washington.
Over 20 U.S. diplomats and their family members reportedly suffered symptoms such as hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo, headaches and fatigue since November 2016. However, after months of investigation security agencies from both countries said the alleged attacks never took place.
