The communist country of Cuba marked the 62nd anniversary of Fidel Castro's first armed offensive against former dictator Fulgencio Batista.

Sunday's celebration, attended by Cuban President Raúl Castro along with other high ranking Cuban officials, was the first time the country observed the start of the Cuban Revolution since historically restoring relations with the United States.

Cuban Vice President José Ramón Machado Ventura addressed the crowd of thousands. Looking forward to the lifting of the current U.S. embargo on Cuba, Ventura said, "Now begins a long and complex road toward normalization of bilateral relations that includes among other aspects the end of the blockade and the return of the Guantanamo naval base."

Leaders worldwide have been anxiously waiting for the lifting of the embargo as well. Last May, French President François Hollande visited Cuba and called for an end to the U.S. embargo. As the New York Times reported, Hollande said his country "will be a faithful ally" to Cuba as it prepared to re-enter the global economic system.

The main opposition to the lifting of the embargo comes from U.S. Republicans like Sen. Marco Rubio and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, both of whom are campaigning for the Republican presidential primary. 

Rubio, who brought up the U.N. Security Council's recent endorsement of the Iran nuclear deal, expressed his frustration regarding the re-establishment of diplomatic ties between the U.S. and Cuba.

"History will remember July 20, 2015, as Obama's Capitulation Monday, the day two sworn enemies of the United States were able to out-maneuver President Obama to secure historic concessions," said Rubio in a statement, the same day the U.S. and Cuban embassies reopened in both countries. 

On the other hand, Libertarian-leaning candidate Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., sees the change in relations with Cuba as a welcomed one, stating via Facebook, “After 50 years of conflict, why not try a new approach?"

Paul added, “The United States trades and engages with other communist nations, such as China and Vietnam. Why not Cuba? I am a proponent of peace through commerce, and I believe engaging Cuba can lead to positive change.”