In a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy, the Biden administration is preparing to remove Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism, marking another chapter in the complex relationship between the two nations. This expected policy change would reverse a last-minute decision made during the final days of the Trump presidency.
Anticipated policy reversal
According to U.S. officials who spoke on condition of anonymity, the Biden administration plans to announce the removal of Cuba from the state sponsors of terrorism list on Tuesday. When approached for comment, White House National Security Council officials declined to provide any statement on the matter.
Short-lived change expected
The policy shift may prove temporary, as President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration, particularly through Secretary of State-designate Marco Rubio, is likely to reverse the decision as early as next week. Rubio, whose family escaped Cuba before the communist revolution led by Fidel Castro, has consistently advocated for maintaining strict sanctions against the island nation.
Historical context and previous designations
The Trump administration had reinstated Cuba’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism on January 11, 2021. This action reversed an earlier decision made during Barack Obama’s presidency, when the U.S. and Cuba experienced a period of diplomatic rapprochement.
Reasons behind Trump’s designation
The Trump administration’s decision to return Cuba to the terrorism sponsors list was based on several factors, including:
– Cuba’s ongoing support for Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro
– The country’s refusal to extradite Colombian rebels
– Its practice of harboring wanted Americans
