Cuba was first designated a state sponsor of terrorism in 1982 by then-US President Ronald Reagan. File Photo: Reuters
President Joe Biden wants to remove Cuba from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism. The White House said on Tuesday that he has made the decision as part of a prisoner release agreement.
Shortly after the announcement from the White House, Cuba announced the release of 553 prisoners held in the country for various crimes. It is expected that among these prisoners will be those who participated in anti-government protests four years ago.
It is not yet certain whether Biden’s decision will change after Trump comes to power. Trump will be sworn in for a second term as US president on January 20. He has chosen Marco Rubio as his secretary of state. Rubio has worked to impose sanctions on Cuba.
Cuba was first designated a state sponsor of terrorism in 1982 by then-US President Ronald Reagan. The island nation was removed from the list in 2015 under President Barack Obama. But Trump, who came to power in his first term, criticized the communist country for supporting Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and put the country back on the list.
Cuba said Biden’s move was a step in the right direction, albeit limited. The country’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the decision would end certain coercive measures. These measures, among other things, have severely damaged the Cuban economy and have had a serious impact on the people.
The Foreign Ministry said in a separate statement that several hundred prisoners would be released gradually. However, no details were given on which prisoners would be released.
Anti-government protests broke out in the country in 2021 after the collapse of the Cuban economy. Several protesters were arrested at the time. They are expected to be among the prisoners to be released.
In addition to Cuba, the US currently lists North Korea, Syria and Iran as countries that sponsor terrorism. The decision to remove Cuba from the list not only opens the door to prisoner releases, but is also seen as a step towards normalizing relations between the country and the US. The move could also pave the way for dialogue on other contentious issues between the two countries.
The move could also help save Cuba’s sinking economy. The country’s inclusion on the terrorism list has made it difficult for some major banks and foreign investors to operate legally.
The White House statement said yesterday that Biden will tell Congress about his plan for Cuba. The plan also includes lifting economic sanctions imposed on some Cuban citizens during the Trump administration. The statement said that Biden also plans to limit the ability to claim ownership of privately owned assets confiscated in Cuba.
However, it is not yet certain whether Biden’s decision will change after Trump comes to power. Trump will be sworn in as US President for a second term on January 20. He has chosen Marco Rubio as his Secretary of State. Rubio has worked in favor of imposing sanctions on Cuba.
Rubio is an American of Cuban descent. Rubio’s family left Cuba for the United States when the communist revolution took place in the 1950s. Fidel Castro came to power in Cuba through that revolution.
