On a significant Tuesday announcement, the Biden administration revealed its decision to remove Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. This decision, made during the closing days of Biden’s presidency, is anticipated to be reversed by the incoming administration led by President-elect Donald Trump. A senior administration official confirmed this development, stating that an assessment has been conducted and there is no supporting evidence for Cuba’s continued designation as a state sponsor of terrorism.
Cuba was designated as a state sponsor of terrorism by former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in January 2021. Pompeo’s claim was based on Cuba allegedly providing refuge and support for acts of international terrorism, particularly related to a Colombian guerrilla organization’s leaders who sought asylum in Havana during peace talks that turned tragic due to a bombing in Colombia. Pompeo’s actions have been criticized by some as politically motivated, occurring just days before he exited office, particularly since President Barack Obama had removed Cuba from this list during his tenure in 2015.
Currently, Cuba is one of only four nations, alongside North Korea, Iran, and Syria, classified as a state sponsor of terrorism. This classification leads to stringent economic sanctions that exacerbate the longstanding US embargo against the island. Cuban officials have tirelessly campaigned for their removal from this list, highlighting the dire economic consequences it entails. December 2021 saw President Miguel Díaz-Canel, along with former leader Raúl Castro, leading a mass protest near the US Embassy in Havana, urging for the revocation of the terror label.
The Biden administration’s announcement included additional measures aimed at easing tensions and promoting humanitarian efforts. Specifically, it included a waiver of Title III of the Helms-Burton Act, which permits U.S. nationals to sue for damages over properties seized during the Cuban revolution. The previous Trump administration had enforced this provision in 2019, allowing such lawsuits to proceed, but Biden’s recent decision reinstated the prohibition on these legal claims.
Moreover, the Biden administration declared the rescission of a previous memorandum from the Trump era, which established a “restricted list.” This list identified entities in Cuba that faced prohibitive financial transactions, thereby complicating economic dealings between Cuba and certain US businesses. Senior officials indicated that these unilateral steps align with an ongoing dialogue between the Catholic Church and Cuba, aimed at enabling the humanitarian release of numerous political prisoners held unjustly in Cuba.
Internationally, the transition in U.S. policy has been well-received. For instance, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has been vocal in urging the U.S. to reconsider Cuba’s designation, while the Colombian government also reached out diplomatically to advocate for Cuba’s declassification. Other allies, including the European Union, Spain, Canada, and several Latin American nations, have similarly expressed support for Cuba’s removal from this classification.
Despite the positive reception, the sustainability of these new policies is questionable, especially with Trump’s administration likely to adopt a more hardline stance on Cuba. Trump has appointed officials who traditionally favor strict measures against Fidel Castro’s government, notably Senator Marco Rubio, a Cuban-American politician known for his opposition to the island’s regime.
Nonetheless, the decision is not irreversible. The process governing state sponsor of terrorism designations includes provisions for Congressional review, leaving the door open for future interventions by the incoming administration. Communication between the current Biden administration and Trump’s transition teams has been ongoing, outlining various issues—including this one—while preparing for a potential policy shift.
In response to this decision, the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs publicly expressed satisfaction, stating that it ends certain coercive measures that have severely impacted Cuba’s economy and its populace. Furthermore, in light of the Vatican’s advocacy for political prisoner releases, President Diaz-Canel has indicated plans for gradually releasing 553 prisoners, which signals a potential thaw in relations. This release will likely encompass individuals detained during the civil unrest witnessed on July 11, 2021, although specifics regarding who would be released and the timelines remain uncertain.
