(AP) - President Barack Obama is expected to visit Cuba next month as the two countries continue their efforts to normalize relations after a half-century of Cold War opposition.

The White House is planning to make the announcement as early as Thursday.

Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro announced in late 2014 that they would begin normalizing ties.

The Obama administration is eager to make rapid progress on building trade and diplomatic ties with Cuba before Obama leaves office. The two nations signed a deal Tuesday restoring commercial air traffic for the first time in five decades.

ABC News first reported Wednesday that the White House planned to announce the trip Thursday.