President Trump Reinstates Cuba on U.S. List of State Sponsors of Terrorism

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has reversed a decision made under the Joe Biden administration, placing Cuba back on the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism.

On his first day in office, President Trump signed several executive orders, including one aimed at canceling 78 executive actions and directives from the Biden administration. One of the key decisions was the reinstatement of Cuba to the “State Sponsors of Terrorism” list, a designation it had been removed from earlier under the Biden administration.

A statement from the White House confirmed that the decision was made to reclassify Cuba, a move that triggered an immediate reaction from Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, who called the action a “mockery and an insult.” He added that this move further confirmed the U.S. government’s practice of discrediting and applying unilateral pressure on nations it deems adversaries.

Earlier, in January 2021, the White House had announced Cuba’s removal from the terrorism list, which led to some progress in the release of prisoners incarcerated for various offenses in Cuba. The removal decision was made in part to ease tensions and engage in diplomatic negotiations.

Former President Barack Obama had previously removed Cuba from this list in May 2015, signaling a thaw in U.S.-Cuba relations. However, just before leaving office, President Trump re-designated Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism in January 2021.

In addition to Cuba, countries such as North Korea, Iran, and Syria are also included in the U.S. terrorism list.

This recent decision has added another layer of complexity to the already strained relations between Cuba and the U.S., as both nations continue to navigate diplomatic and economic challenges that have persisted for decades.