President Joe Biden has announced plans to remove Cuba from the U.S. State Sponsors of Terrorism list, marking a significant step toward improving relations between the two countries. The decision comes as part of a broader agreement that includes the release of 553 prisoners detained for various offenses, with hopes that some of them may be participants in anti-government protests from 2021.
The move reverses the 2021 decision by President-elect Donald Trump to reinstate Cuba’s terrorism designation, which had been lifted in 2015 by President Barack Obama. The U.S. had previously placed Cuba on the list for allegedly supporting international terrorism, particularly due to its ties with Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. However, Biden’s administration has stated that an assessment found no current evidence to justify the designation.
Cuba welcomed the announcement, calling it a step “in the right direction” despite its “limited nature.” The Cuban government also stressed that lifting this designation would help alleviate economic hardships caused by U.S. sanctions.
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The agreement, which was facilitated by the Catholic Church, is expected to see hundreds of prisoners freed gradually. While the details of those prisoners have not been disclosed, it is hoped that it will include individuals arrested during large anti-government protests in 2021, sparked by Cuba’s economic struggles.
This decision is significant not only for its impact on Cuba’s economy but also as a potential move toward normalizing relations between Cuba and the U.S. Biden’s administration also plans to reverse some Trump-era financial restrictions on Cubans and suspend the right for individuals to make claims for confiscated property in Cuba.
It remains uncertain whether President-elect Trump will reverse this decision when he takes office in January 2025, as his nominee for secretary of state, Marco Rubio, has long supported sanctions on Cuba.
