During his first term, Trump reinstated Cuba on the U.S. terrorism list, a move that strained relations between the two nations. Mike Waltz, Trump’s choice for national security adviser, hinted at a potential reversal, telling Fox News, “Anything they, the Biden Administration, are doing right now we can undo, and no one should be under any illusion about a change in Cuba policy.”
In a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy, the Biden administration has signaled its willingness to remove Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism.
This move, announced by President Joe Biden, is part of a broader agreement that could lead to the release of 553 Americans currently held in Cuban prisons.
The deal, brokered with the assistance of the Catholic Church, comes just days before Donald Trump is set to return to the White House, raising questions about whether his administration will reverse Biden’s decision.
During his first term, Trump reinstated Cuba on the U.S. terrorism list, a move that strained relations between the two nations. Mike Waltz, Trump’s choice for national security adviser, hinted at a potential reversal, telling Fox News, “Anything they, the Biden Administration, are doing right now we can undo, and no one should be under any illusion about a change in Cuba policy.”
A Biden administration official explained that Cuba has agreed to “gradually” release 553 prisoners who have been “unjustly detained” in exchange for its removal from the terrorism list. Cuba’s foreign ministry welcomed the agreement, stating that it “puts an end to specific coercive measures” that have negatively impacted the country’s economy.
While Cuban officials did not specify which prisoners would be released, families of those imprisoned after anti-government protests in 2021 expressed hope that their loved ones would be among those freed.
Liset Fonseca, whose 41-year-old son was sentenced to 10 years in prison for participating in the 2021 protests, shared her anguish: “All the mothers of prisoners want our children to be free, out of that suffering, out of that hell that is the prisons in Cuba. They should never have been in prison in the first place.”
Cuba’s inclusion on the U.S. State Sponsors of Terrorism list, which it shares with North Korea, Syria, and Iran, has had significant consequences. The designation implies that the U.S. views Cuba as a nation that has “repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism.”
Trump re-added Cuba to the list in 2021, citing its support for Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. At the time, Cuba condemned the decision as “cynical,” “hypocritical,” and an act of “political opportunism.”
Beyond the immediate impact of prisoner releases, this policy shift could mark a step toward normalizing U.S.-Cuba relations. It may also alleviate some of Cuba’s economic struggles, as the terrorism designation has deterred major banks and foreign investors from engaging with the country.
According to a White House statement, Biden plans to notify Congress of his intention to lift certain Trump-era financial restrictions on Cuba and suspend the ability of individuals to file claims related to confiscated property in the country.
This development opens the door to potential discussions on other contentious issues between the two nations and offers a glimmer of hope for improved diplomatic and economic ties. However, with Trump’s impending return to office, the future of U.S.-Cuba relations remains uncertain.
