WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — President Biden announced the removal of Cuba from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism, marking a significant shift in the relationship between the two nations. The White House confirmed the decision on Tuesday, following an internal assessment that found no evidence to justify Cuba’s designation.
“A rigorous review has been conducted, and we do not have information that would support listing Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism,” said a senior administration official during the press briefing.
This move brings normalcy to ties that Cuba had sought to mend for decades-long sanctions by the U.S. Meanwhile, on a reciprocal scale, Cuba would reportedly release a few of the arrested protesters as part of an agreement that hasn’t been quite clarified yet.
It was first labeled as a state sponsor of terrorism under the Reagan administration back in 1982, mainly based on its aid to revolutionary groups in Latin America. The Obama administration removed that designation in 2015 within a larger effort at rapprochement, but the Trump administration reinstated it in 2021 as part of the administration’s heightened concerns over harboring fugitives and supporting Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro.
The move by the Biden administration has generated debate, with proponents hailing it as a step toward repairing diplomatic relations and critics expressing concerns about the implications for U.S. security.
The announcement comes as tensions remain high in the region, with ongoing scrutiny of Cuba’s human rights record and its role in regional politics.
The White House did not state if further actions would be taken, but officials stressed dialogue in tackling common issues.
