Biden Administration Moves to Remove Cuba from “State Sponsor of Terrorism” List
The outgoing Biden administration is poised to remove Cuba from the United States’ list of “state sponsors of terrorism,”Al Jazeera reports, citing anonymous sources familiar with the matter.
The Associated Press first reported the story Tuesday, citing US officials, just days before President-elect Donald Trump is set to take office, potentially reversing the decision.
Despite the high likelihood of a swift reversal by the incoming Trump administration, the Biden team has proceeded, officially notifying Congress of its intent. This action echoes a similar move by former President Barack Obama, during whose tenure Biden served as Vice President, which saw a temporary thaw in relations between the two nations.
Cuban officials have welcomed the announcement as a long-overdue correction. Cuban Minister of Foreign Affairs Bruno Rodriguez acknowledged the change on social media as “positive” but “limited” in its efficacy, signaling that deeper changes would be needed for a lasting impact.
This designation against Cuba has a history of being rescinded and then reimposed. Republicans, including figures like Senator Rick Scott of Florida, are already vowing to challenge the change. The political battle lines are drawn, with the issue dividing along partisan lines.
In an apparent gesture of goodwill coinciding with the US move, the Cuban government announced the pending release of 553 prisoners accused of various crimes. This release includes some who were likely swept up in the anti-government protests that occurred in 2021.
Cuba was first placed on the “state sponsor of terrorism” list in 1982 under President Ronald Reagan. At the time, the State Department cited Cuba’s support for “guerrilla groups and individual terrorists”, providing them with “advice, safe haven, communications, training, and financial support.” This action occurred during the Cold War and further isolated Cuba, limiting its international economic engagement and preventing it from receiving US. assistance.
Currently, alongside Cuba, only North Korea, Iran, and Syria remain on this US designated list.
This move to de-list Cuba recalls the steps taken by President Obama in 2015. Obama had removed the designation after he received assurances from Cuba that they would not engage in supporting international terrorism. He followed up with the restoration of formal diplomatic relations, breaking a decades long standoff.
President Trump, however, reversed Obama’s moves, reinstating Cuba to the list just prior to the end of his presidency in January 2021. Trump’s administration, led by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, accused Cuba of harboring “murderers, bombmakers and hijackers,” a charge the Cuban government vehemently denied, calling the action “hypocrisy” and “political opportunism”.
Pressure had mounted on the Biden administration to revisit the issue. A group of Democratic representatives urged immediate action to improve Cuba’s deteriorating humanitarian situation. They cited the impact of Hurricane Rafael, a crumbling energy infrastructure and a record number of Cuban citizens leaving the island due to economic instability. These Democrats asserted removing the “state sponsor of terrorism” designation would enable greater resources to flow to Cuba, offering much needed relief.
However, Republicans such as Senator Scott and Senator Marco Rubio have been outspoken critics, emphasizing the hardships endured by Cuban refugees who fled the country, particula rly those living in Florida, and decrying any move that could be interpreted as supporting the current Cuban government. Rubio, a descendant of Cuban immigrants and a potential nominee for Secretary of State in the Trump administration, has been particularly critical of past attempts to normalize relations.
