US places Cuba again on ‘state sponsor of terrorism’ listing

The US State Department put Cuba again on a blacklist designating it a “state sponsor of terrorism” on Monday.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo introduced the transfer in a press release, noting Cuba’s harboring of US fugitives in addition to its assist for Venezuelan chief Nicolas Maduro.
It’s the most recent in a sequence of main coverage strikes made by President Donald Trump’s administration earlier than President-elect Joe Biden takes workplace on January 20.
Cuba was faraway from the listing in 2015 by then-president Barack Obama as he moved to normalize relations with the nation.
What did Pompeo say?
Pompeo mentioned Cuba was being blacklisted once more for “repeatedly providing support for acts of international terrorism” in addition to harboring US fugitives and Colombian insurgent leaders.
“With this action, we will once again hold Cuba’s government accountable and send a clear message: the Castro regime must end its support for international terrorism and subversion of US justice,” Pompeo mentioned, referring to former Cuban leaders Fidel and Raul Castro.
“The United States will continue to support the Cuban people in their desire for a democratic government and respect for human rights, including freedom of religion, expression and association,” he mentioned in a press release.
Also on Monday, the US State Department moved to declare Yemen’s Houthi rebels as a “terrorist organization.”
Cuba’s overseas minister responded to the transfer saying: “We condemn the hypocritical and cynical designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism by the US.”
“The political opportunism of this act is recognized by everyone who has a genuince concern for the scourge of terrorism and its victims.”
What does this imply for Cuba?
The terror designation has main penalties for Havana and on a regular basis Cubans.
Foreign traders will now threat US prosecution for transactions in Cuba.
The reinstated sanctions additionally embody main restrictions barring most journey between the US and Cuba.
The sanctions additionally curb cash transfers between the 2 nations, hitting arduous the incomes of Cubans who’ve family within the US.
Only three different nations are presently on the “state sponsor of terrorism” listing, together with: North Korea, Syria and Iran.
What occurs subsequent?
In order to take Cuba off the listing once more, incoming President Biden’s administration must perform a proper overview.
Secretary of State nominee Antony Blinken must name for the overview and it will have to be confirmed that the Cuban authorities didn’t have interaction in terrorism inside the previous six months.
The course of takes time, which means Cuba might stay on the listing for months.
Biden has mentioned he would reverse lots of Trump’s insurance policies on Cuba upon getting into workplace.
Trump’s clampdown on Cuba
Since taking workplace in 2017, Trump has taken a hardline stance on Communist-led Cuba.
He reversed lots of the insurance policies of the Obama administration, shifting to tighten restrictions on US journey and remittances.
The Trump administration additionally imposed sanctions on Venezuelan oil shipments to Cuba.
Trump’s Cuba coverage was common amongst Cuban-Americans in Florida, contributing to his electoral win within the state — though he in the end misplaced the November election to Biden.