Analyst says nation should stay vigilant

Five days before arriving in Havana, US President Barack Obama lifted some of the travel, trade and financial restrictions on Cuba.

Now, US tourists can travel independently to the island country; Cubans can carry out international financial transactions with the US dollar and American boats can harbor in Cuban ports, among other measures.

All these steps are aimed to allow the United States to become "directly involved" with the Cuban people, Obama told CNN.