As President Joe Biden nears the end of his term, there is a possibility that his administration might remove Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. This information comes from U.S. officials who are acquainted with the matter but have chosen to remain anonymous as they are not authorized to speak publicly on the issue. According to these sources, the topic is currently under discussion, although no official announcement has been made yet.
The Associated Press reports that the decision to rescind the designation could be finalized next week, coinciding with the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump and Marco Rubio's assumption of duties as Secretary of State. Rubio, whose family fled Cuba in the 1950s prior to Fidel Castro's Communist Revolution, has been a staunch advocate for sanctions against the island and is expected to potentially intensify them during his tenure.
Rubio is scheduled to discuss his Cuban heritage during his confirmation hearing with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee this Wednesday. The designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism was reinstated in the final days of Trump's first term on January 11, 2021. This action reversed the rapprochement initiated during Barack Obama's presidency, which had lifted the designation.
The Trump administration justified re-imposing the label by citing Cuba's support for Nicolás Maduro's regime in Venezuela, its refusal to extradite Colombian rebels, and harboring U.S. fugitives. Throughout the past four years, Biden and his team have maintained that there would be no changes to Cuba's status on the terrorism list despite demands from Havana's regime.
Even as recently as December 11, Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that he did not foresee any policy changes regarding Cuba before Biden's term concludes. If the removal of Cuba from the list were to occur—a long-standing request from Cuban authorities—the Democrats would end this administration similarly to Barack Obama's, who three days before leaving office, terminated the "Wet Foot, Dry Foot" policy.
Cuba and the Terrorism Sponsors List: Key Questions
Why was Cuba labeled as a state sponsor of terrorism?
The Trump administration reinstated the designation citing Cuba's support for Nicolás Maduro's regime in Venezuela, its refusal to extradite Colombian rebels, and providing sanctuary to U.S. fugitives.
What could change if Cuba is removed from the terrorism list?
Removing Cuba from the list could improve diplomatic relations and potentially ease economic sanctions, aligning with the previous approach during Barack Obama's presidency.