Biden removes Cuba from terror list, Cuba agrees to free 553 prisoners
text_fields
President Joe Biden announced the removal of Cuba from the United States' list of state sponsors of terrorism, a decision coupled with Cuba's agreement to release 553 prisoners.
The White House confirmed the development on Tuesday, stating the move followed a thorough assessment that found no evidence supporting Cuba’s terror designation.
In response to the U.S. decision, Cuba announced it would release 553 individuals incarcerated for various crimes. This marks a significant diplomatic gesture, as the Biden administration seeks to recalibrate relations with the communist nation.
Cuba’s Foreign Ministry welcomed the decision as a step in the "right direction" but criticised the continuing U.S. sanctions that have been in place since 1962. The sanctions are blamed for Cuba's severe economic crisis, which has led to shortages of basic necessities, including food, medicine, and electricity.
Cuba's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism was reinstated by former President Donald Trump during his first term in 2021, reversing the loosening of sanctions under President Barack Obama’s administration. Trump’s stricter policies included heightened sanctions and financial restrictions on Cuba.
President Miguel Díaz-Canel expressed a readiness for dialogue with the U.S. but accused American sanctions of being “genocidal.” He acknowledged the country’s economic challenges, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and internal mismanagement, as well as ongoing U.S. policies.
The announcement has sparked criticism from Republican leaders, including Cuban-American senators Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio. Cruz called the move "rank appeasement of the Cuban regime" and warned it undermines American national security. Rubio, nominated by Trump as Secretary of State in his new administration, has been a vocal critic of communism and leftist policies.
The Biden administration also announced changes to U.S.-Cuba relations by waiving parts of the Libertad Act, effectively halting lawsuits by Americans with claims to confiscated property in Cuba. Additionally, restrictions on financial transactions with certain Cuban entities—imposed under Trump’s “National Security Presidential Memorandum 5”—will be lifted.
With Trump set to return to office next week, analysts predict a reversal of these policies, potentially heightening tensions between the two nations.