Dominica has urged the United States to remove Cuba from the “State Sponsors of Terrorism” list, criticizing the designation as undeserved and baseless.
The Commonwealth of Dominica expressed its concerns regarding the ongoing negative impact of this classification on Cuba, emphasizing the absence of evidence linking the Cuban government to acts of state-sponsored terrorism.
Shift in US policy towards Cuba
Recently, the US State Department acknowledged a shift in its stance towards Cuba by removing the nation from a list of countries allegedly not cooperating fully in the fight against terrorism.
This decision followed renewed law enforcement collaborations between the two countries, signaling a move away from previous restrictions.
An official noted that the circumstances that led to Cuba’s previous designation as a non-cooperating country had significantly changed from the previous year.
Economic and diplomatic repercussions
The original decision to label Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism was made by former US President Donald Trump just before his departure from office.
This move is said to have exacerbated Cuba’s economic struggles, contributing to severe shortages in food, fuel, and medicine.
Dominica has labeled this as an arbitrary classification used to justify the long-standing economic embargo imposed by the United States.
Call for normalized relations and lifting sanctions
Dominica has reiterated its stance on normalizing relations with Cuba and has called for the lifting of economic sanctions.
The government highlighted the potential benefits such actions could have on peace, stability, and economic growth in Cuba, which continues to contribute significantly to the Caribbean region’s development, especially in health, agriculture, and education sectors.
The government of Dominica stands in solidarity with Cuba in condemning terrorism in all its forms, including acts considered as state-sponsored.
