 |
| In 1982, then-US President Ronald Reagan first included Cuba on the list of 'state sponsors of terrorism' | Photo: Reuters |
President Joe Biden wants to remove Cuba from the United States' list of "state sponsors of terrorism," the White House said Tuesday, as part of a prisoner release deal.
Shortly after the White House announcement, Cuba announced the release of 553 prisoners held in the country for various crimes. It is expected that among the prisoners will be those who participated in anti-government protests four years ago.
Cuba was first included on the list of 'state sponsors of terrorism' in 1982 by then-US President Ronald Reagan. The island nation was removed from the list in 2015 under President Barack Obama. But Trump, who came to power in his first term and criticized the communist country for supporting Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, added the country back to the list.
Cuba said Biden's initiative, although limited, was a step in the right direction. The country's foreign ministry said in a statement that the decision would end certain coercive measures that, among other things, had severely damaged the Cuban economy and had a serious impact on the people.
The Foreign Ministry said in a separate statement that several hundred prisoners would be released gradually, but did not provide details on which prisoners would be released.
Anti-government protests erupted in Cuba in 2021 after the country's economy collapsed. Several protesters were arrested during the protests. They are expected to be among the prisoners to be released.
The US currently lists Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism, along with North Korea, Syria, and Iran. The decision to remove Cuba from the list not only opens the door to prisoner releases but is also seen as a step towards normalizing relations with the country. The move could also pave the way for dialogue between the two countries on other contentious issues.
The move could also help save Cuba's sinking economy, where some major banks and foreign investors struggle to operate legally due to its inclusion on the terrorism list.
The White House statement said yesterday that Biden will brief Congress on his plan for Cuba. The plan includes lifting economic sanctions imposed on some Cuban citizens during the Trump administration. Biden also plans to limit the ability to claim ownership of privately owned assets confiscated in Cuba, the statement said.
However, it is not yet certain whether Biden's decision will change after Trump comes to power. Trump will be sworn in for a second term as US president on January 20. He has chosen Marco Rubio as his secretary of state. Rubio has worked in favor of imposing sanctions on Cuba.
Rubio is Cuban-American. Rubio's family emigrated to the United States after the communist revolution in Cuba in the 1950s, which brought Fidel Castro to power.