The Biden administration aims to lift Cuba’s terror designation to secure the release of political prisoners on the island
Washington: So, the Biden administration is making some big moves regarding Cuba. They’re planning to lift the designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism. This is part of a deal to free political prisoners on the island, and it’s all being facilitated by the Catholic Church.
According to some senior officials, we could see many political prisoners released by the end of Biden’s term. They’re talking about dozens of people who are considered unjustly detained. That’s a pretty significant step, right?
Along with this, the U.S. is looking to ease some economic pressure on Cuba. This is a shift from the tougher stance that was put in place by Trump back in 2017. It seems like a lot is changing in U.S.-Cuba relations.
But here’s the catch: once Trump takes office again, he might reverse this decision pretty quickly. His Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has always been a strong supporter of sanctions against Cuba. He’s got personal ties to the island, so it’ll be interesting to see how he handles this situation.
Back in January 2021, Trump reinstated Cuba’s terror designation, citing various reasons, including Cuba’s support for Venezuela. This was during a time when relations were warming up under Obama, so it’s a bit of a rollercoaster ride for U.S.-Cuba relations.
Human rights groups have been pushing for this change, and it looks like Biden is finally listening. However, Congress and the incoming Trump administration will have a chance to review and possibly reverse these actions. Officials from Biden’s team say there’s no credible evidence that Cuba is involved in international terrorism right now.
Of course, not everyone is on board with this decision. Texas Senator Ted Cruz quickly criticized it, saying the terrorism from the Cuban regime hasn’t stopped. He’s planning to work with Trump to reverse this decision and limit any potential damage.
