Barack Obama, Raul Castro speak by phone amid bid to restore Cuba Ties

The extraordinary call between President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro came on Wednesday, shortly before Obama departed Washington on his trip to Latin America and the Caribbean, the White House said. Both Obama and Castro arrived in Panama City for the Summit of the Americas on Thursday evening, only minutes apart.

The two leaders have been working to restore diplomatic ties, a move that'll likely be debated at the OAS Summit in Panama.

It's only the second known conversation between the leaders of the U.S. and Cuba in more than 50 years.

The first was in December, shortly before Obama and Castro announced plans to restore diplomatic ties. That process is currently underway.

Edited by Ivan Martínez