Biden to Remove Cuba from US Terrorism List in Prisoner Release Deal

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The Biden administration has announced plans to remove Cuba from the United States’ list of state sponsors of terrorism as part of a prisoner release agreement.

This move was confirmed by the White House on Tuesday, following Cuba’s commitment to release 553 prisoners convicted of various offences. Among those to be freed, it is anticipated that some may include individuals imprisoned for participating in anti-government protests four years ago.

Cuba was reclassified as a state sponsor of terrorism in 2021 during the final days of Donald Trump’s presidency. The designation reinstated restrictions, including a ban on US economic aid and arms exports. However, a senior Biden administration official revealed that a recent review found no evidence to justify Cuba’s inclusion on the list.

In response, Cuba’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the decision as a step in the right direction but noted its limited scope. A statement from the ministry highlighted that the US sanctions, alongside other coercive measures, have inflicted significant harm on the Cuban economy and its population. A separate statement, issued hours later, confirmed that the prisoner releases would be conducted gradually, following negotiations facilitated by the Catholic Church.

The identities of those to be released have not been disclosed, but there is optimism that the deal will result in the release of protesters detained during widespread demonstrations in 2021, which were triggered by economic hardships.

Cuba is currently listed alongside North Korea, Syria, and Iran as a state sponsor of terrorism, a classification for countries deemed to have repeatedly supported acts of international terrorism. The Trump administration justified Cuba’s reclassification in 2021, citing its support for Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. At the time, Cuba denounced the decision as “political opportunism” and “hypocritical.”

This recent development is considered a potential step towards improving US-Cuba relations. Analysts suggest it could lead to broader discussions on contentious issues and provide some relief for Cuba’s struggling economy, which has been further hampered by difficulties in securing foreign investments and operating through international financial systems.

The White House also stated that President Biden would notify Congress of additional measures, including the reversal of certain Trump-era financial restrictions affecting Cubans and the suspension of individual claims to confiscated property in Cuba.

Whether this decision will stand under a future Trump administration remains uncertain, as the president-elect has expressed strong support for sanctions on Cuba. His nominee for Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has long advocated a hard-line stance against the Cuban government, citing personal ties to the country, where his family lived prior to Fidel Castro’s rise to power in the 1950s.

Frances Ibiefo

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Biden to Remove Cuba from US Terrorism List in Prisoner Release Deal

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