A Shift in U.S.-Cuba Relations Ahead of Trump’s Potential Return
Team Youngistaan
In a significant policy reversal, the Biden administration has officially removed Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. The decision, announced on Tuesday, overturns the designation made by the Trump administration in January 2021, just days before President Biden assumed office.
In a certification accompanying the decision, President Biden stated that Cuba had not supported acts of international terrorism in the preceding six months and provided assurances that it would not support such actions in the future. The White House underscored its commitment to fostering freedom, democracy, and human rights in Cuba, calling for “practical engagement with the Cuban people” to achieve these goals.
This move repeals National Security Presidential Memorandum 5 (NSPM-5), issued under Trump, which focused on limiting Cuba’s resources and addressing its alleged interference in Venezuela. The Trump administration had accused Cuba of providing safe haven to terrorists and supporting subversion against the U.S.
Cuba was first designated a state sponsor of terrorism in 1982 but was removed from the list in 2015 under the Obama administration. The Trump administration reinstated the status, citing Cuba’s alleged ties to nations like Iran and North Korea and its harboring of individuals wanted for terrorism-related activities.
The Biden administration’s policy shift reflects an intent to reshape U.S.-Cuba relations amid evolving regional dynamics and global challenges.
