The United States has announced a significant shift in its foreign policy by removing Cuba from its list of state sponsors of terrorism. President Joe Biden notified Congress on Tuesday of his administration’s decision, marking a pivotal moment in U.S.-Cuban relations.
According to a statement from the White House, the delisting is part of a broader agreement aimed at freeing political prisoners in Cuba and individuals deemed by Washington as unjustly detained by the government in Havana. Senior Biden administration officials highlighted that the move comes after a comprehensive assessment revealed “no credible evidence” that Cuba is currently supporting international terrorism.
This decision reverses the action taken by former President Donald Trump in January 2021, when he re-designated Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism in the final days of his administration. Trump’s move had undone the efforts of his predecessor, President Barack Obama, who sought to normalize relations with Cuba and had previously lifted the terrorism designation.
In addition to the delisting, President Biden signed a national security memorandum rescinding the 2017 Cuba sanction policy known as “National Security Presidential Memorandum 5,” effectively lifting restrictions on certain Cuban individuals and entities engaging in financial transactions with U.S. persons and entities.
To further encourage the Cuban government to release prisoners, the Biden administration issued a waiver for Title III of the Helms-Burton Act for a period of six months. This waiver, as stated by White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, prevents U.S. nationals and others from filing lawsuits in U.S. courts over property confiscated by Cuban authorities following the 1959 Cuban Revolution.
Senior administration officials and Jean-Pierre also acknowledged the role of the Catholic Church, led by Pope Francis, in facilitating the prisoner release agreement. President Biden recently awarded Pope Francis the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Saturday in recognition of his contributions.
This historic development signifies a potential thaw in U.S.-Cuba relations, with implications for international diplomacy and human rights advocacy. The release of political prisoners and the lifting of certain sanctions may pave the way for renewed engagement between the two nations.
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Biden administration delists Cuba as state sponsor of terrorism
cgtn.com
