PANAMA CITY — Generations of distrust between the U.S. and Cuba could begin to fade away Saturday as their presidents are expected to officially meet face to face for the first time since the height of the Cold War. The historic gathering offers Barack Obama and Raul Castro the chance to infuse fresh momentum into their efforts to restore normal relations between their countries.

Anticipation of an Obama-Castro meeting has been steadily building throughout this week’s Summit of the Americas in Panama City, and reached a fever pitch Friday evening when they traded handshakes and cordial greetings in a prelude of things to come. Not once in more than 50 years have the leaders of Cuba and its northerly neighbor spent quality time together, assuring their expected sit-down Saturday would be one for the history books.

Mending ties with the longtime U.S. foe could form a cornerstone of Obama’s foreign policy legacy.