In a significant move during his final days in office, U.S. President Joe Biden announced the removal of Cuba from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list. The decision, brokered with the help of the Catholic Church, comes alongside Cuba’s commitment to gradually release 553 prisoners deemed unjustly detained.
The agreement marks a dramatic shift in U.S.-Cuba relations, just days before President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in for his second term.
Cuba’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the deal as an end to “specific coercive measures” that have strained the nation’s economy. While details of the prisoners’ identities remain undisclosed, families of those detained during the 2021 anti-government protests are hopeful.
Liset Fonseca, whose son was sentenced to 10 years for participating in the protests, expressed her longing for justice: “They should never have been in prison.”
President Biden’s decision reverses the actions of his predecessor, Donald Trump, who had reinstated Cuba to the terrorism sponsor list during his first term. Trump’s administration cited Cuba’s support for Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro as justification.
While Biden’s actions may signify progress toward normalizing relations, Trump’s incoming administration has signaled a potential reversal. Mike Waltz, Trump’s choice for national security adviser, said on Fox News, “Anything they [the Biden Administration] are doing right now we can do back.”
Cuba currently shares the terrorism sponsor list with North Korea, Syria, and Iran, a designation that has hindered foreign investment and banking operations in the country.
Removing Cuba from the list could ease economic pressures and reopen dialogue on contentious issues between the nations. A White House statement also indicated plans to lift Trump-era financial restrictions on some Cubans and suspend claims to confiscated property in Cuba.
Biden’s administration will notify Congress of the decision, but the shift in U.S.-Cuba relations may face obstacles under Trump’s impending presidency. As Cuba navigates this period of change, many see the move as a hopeful step toward improving its economic and diplomatic standing.
For families awaiting the release of loved ones, the deal brings cautious optimism. For others, the broader implications of this decision remain to be seen in the coming months.