The State Department early Monday morning raised the Cuban flag in its lobby to mark the re-establishment of relations between the two countries after more than 50 years.

President Obama decided to remove Cuba from a list of terrorist-sponsoring nations earlier this year, which paved the way for improved diplomatic relations between the two nations. In addition to flying the flag at State, the U.S. and Cuba will establish permanent embassies in one another's countries, and Obama has also taken steps to liberalize trade and travel rules between the two countries.

The move has been criticized by many Republicans who say it will only help Cuba, a repressive regime, and that Obama got nothing in return for his concessions.

Watch the Cuban flag being raised in the State Department here: