U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has announced the removal of Cuba’s communist regime from the State Department’s list of countries not fully cooperating against terrorism. In a statement sent to members of Congress and the media, Blinken stated that Cuban and U.S. law enforcement officials are now working together on counterterrorism efforts, leading to the decision to remove Cuba from the list. This change was deemed appropriate based on the assessment that Cuba is now cooperating fully compared to previous years.
While Cuba no longer appears on the list of countries not fully cooperating against terrorism, it remains on the official list of State Sponsors of Terrorism along with Iran, Syria, and North Korea. The decision to remove Cuba from the list was made based on specific legal criteria, and any review of its status as a State Sponsor of Terrorism will follow similar guidelines set by Congress.
Cuba was previously on the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism from 1982 to 2015 before its removal under the Obama administration. During the Trump administration, Cuba was designated as a state sponsor of terrorism in 2021 due to its ties with various terrorist organizations.
Despite these changes, Cuba continues to maintain relationships with terrorist groups like Hamas and has been accused of supporting extremist activities. The Castro regime has also organized events in support of Hamas, despite the group’s violent actions against Israel.
There are concerns that the removal of Cuba from the list of countries not fully cooperating against terrorism could lead to a review of its designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla has expressed gratitude for efforts by U.S. lawmakers to remove Cuba from the list and has called for the country to be taken off the State Sponsors of Terrorism list as well.
In response to these developments, the Castro regime has issued statements demanding the removal of Cuba from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list. The regime denies sponsoring terrorism and claims to have been a victim of terrorism instead.
Overall, the situation surrounding Cuba’s status in relation to terrorism and cooperation with the U.S. remains complex and subject to further review.
