The United States has officially removed Cuba from its list of State Sponsors of Terrorism, signaling a significant shift in U.S.-Cuba relations.
The Biden administration determined that Cuba has not supported terrorism in the past six months and has provided assurances that it will not engage in such activities going forward.
The move reverses a decision made in January 2021 that added Cuba to the list. Being labeled as a State Sponsor of Terrorism had serious effects on Cuba, including restrictions on financial transactions and limited access to U.S. economic aid.
According to Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, the Biden-Harris administration’s Cuba policy focuses on “empowering the Cuban people to freely determine their own future, and advancing respect for human rights. This singular purpose has guided our policies to reunify Cuban families, strengthen cultural and educational ties between Cuba and the United States, enable remittances to flow more freely to the Cuban people, and increase support for independent Cuban entrepreneurs.”
As part of this effort, several key steps were announced:
- Rescinding Cuba’s Terrorism Designation: President Biden notified Congress of the decision to remove Cuba from the State Sponsor of Terrorism list.
- Issuing a Waiver for Title III of the Helms-Burton Act: The waiver, also known as the Libertad Act, will be in effect for six months.
- Ending Additional Engagement Restrictions: The 2017 National Security Presidential Memorandum 5 on Cuba policy has been rescinded, lifting additional regulations on U.S. interactions with Cuban individuals and entities.
In collaboration with the Catholic Church and under the guidance of Pope Francis, the Cuban government has also agreed to release a significant number of political prisoners, a move welcomed by the U.S. as a step toward improving the livelihood and liberty of the Cuban people.
President Biden’s actions reflect advice from leaders across Latin America and the Catholic Church to foster constructive dialogue and address the human rights challenges faced by Cubans. These measures aim to build stronger ties between the two nations while encouraging Cuba to make meaningful changes to benefit its citizens.
