The Biden administration has declared plans to take Cuba off the United States’ terrorist sponsor list.
Following this announcement, Cuba has released 553 political prisoners. Most of the prisoners were arrested for their involvement in state-wide protests in 2021. The Catholic Church was negotiating with Cuba before, which lead Biden to make this decision in order to ease the process.
Officials have said: “We do not have information that supports Cuba’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism.
The State Sponsors of Terrorism list consists of countries that the Secretary of State believes to repeatedly support acts of international terrorism.
Then Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, added Cuba to the list of terrorist sponsors in 2021.
According to him, Cuba harboured terrorists and supported international terrorism. The reason behind Pompeo’s decision was Cuba’s refusal to extradite Colombian guerrilla leaders following a bombing in Colombia.
Barack Obama removed Cuba from the list in 2015 for its lack of support in international terrorism.
The United States has held a trade embargo over Cuba since 1962. The Kennedy administration imposed the embargo on the grounds of counterterrorism and protecting human rights.
But, this decades-long restriction on trade has limited Cuba’s growth and development. The country suffers from oil shortages, power cuts and derelict infrastructure.
Most oil tankers from Venezuela do not stop at Cuba out of fear of further sanctions from America.
While this unexpected change brings hope for Cubans and Cuban-Americans, the Trump administration is almost certain to overturn it. Unlike new environmental protection laws, which are designed to be “Trump-proof”.
Cubans have greeted the Biden administration’s decision positively. With beliefs that more resources, opportunities and investment will become open to the country.
Iran, Syria and North Korea remain on the list.
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