State sponsors of terror list: Cuba to be removed
US President Joe Biden will remove the American designation of Cuba from the state sponsors of terrorism list. This comes as part of a prisoner release deal, the White House announced. Shortly after, the Caribbean country announced it would release 553 prisoners detained for “diverse crimes.” Many are hoping that among them will be those who took part in anti-government protests four years ago.
President-elect Donald Trump reinstated Cuba’s terror designation in his final days of his first term in 2021. This means banning economic aid and arms exports. But an official from the Biden administration said an assessment of the situation presented “no information” that supports keeping its designation.
The Cuban government said that this was a step “in the right direction” despite the “limited nature.”
“This decision puts an end to specific coercive measures that, along with many others, cause serious damage to the Cuban economy, with a severe effect on the population,” a statement from the the Cuban ministry of foreign affairs said. Hundreds of prisoners will “gradually” be released after talks brokered by the Catholic Church, according to another statement.
Details have not been revealed about the prisoners but many hope that the deal would result in the release of protesters imprisoned following anti-government protests over economic decline in 2021.
The other countries on the US State Sponsors of Terrorism list are Iran, North Korea, and Syria. It refers to countries that, according to the American government, have “repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism.”
Trump cited the Cuban government’s backing of Venezuela leader Nicolas Maduro for putting it back on the list.
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