Biden sparks fury with plan to take away Cuba from state-sponsored terror record in ultimate days of his administration
- Ted Cruz said any softening on Cuba was a risk to US national security
The Biden administration announced Tuesday it was lifting Cuba‘s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism, triggering an angry wave of condemnation from Republicans.
A senior administration official told reporters that other steps to improve relations with the communist island included reversing a Trump-era order restricting financial transactions with military and government officials.
Sen. Ted Cruz, whose father was Cuban, immediately promised to work with Donald Trump’s incoming administration to reimpose the state sponsor of terrorism tag.
‘Obama-Biden officials are continuing their legacy of closing out administrations with rank appeasement of the Cuban regime,’ he said.
‘They push these policies both because they believe in them and to undermine the incoming Trump administration and Republican Congress.’
He warned that any softening of the U.S. stance to the island risked ‘incredible damage’ to American national security.
It is the latest back and forth on the issue.
Barack Obama‘s administration lifted the designation during a period of warming relations, but it was reimposed on Jan. 11, 2021 during the final days of Donald Trump‘s time in office.
On Tuesday afternoon Sen. Ted Cruz slammed the expected move, and promised to work with the incoming Trump administration to reinstate the designation
Aparade commemorating the 66th anniversary of the caravan of freedom, led by the late Fidel Castro, in Havana, Cuba, on 8 January 2025
Officials cited Cuba’s closeness to the oppressive regime in Venezuela as justification as well as its refusal to extradite Colombian rebels to Colombia.
Biden signaled during the 2020 election campaign that he would pursue a softer line but has left to his final week to change policy.
Human rights groups and activists, including the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, have been pushing Biden to lift restrictions, warning that Cuba was close to economic collapse.
Some 35 former leaders from around the world wrote to Biden in September, urging him to remove the state sponsor of terrorism label.
‘The reasons we state for requesting the removal of Cuba from the list of State sponsors of terrorism are based on a strong humanitarian appeal that seeks to alleviate the situation of millions of innocent people and our deep conviction that the government of Cuba is seriously committed against terrorism and in favor of peace in the region and the world,’ said the letter, signed by Dilma Rousseff, former president of Brazil, and Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, former president of Argentina, among others.
‘No country should compromise for political purposes the seriousness of the fight against the scourge of terrorism.’
The issue is certain to be raised with Trump’s incoming secretary of state, Marco Rubio, when he appears before senators for his confirmation hearing Wednesday.
His family left Cuba before the communist revolution brought Fidel Castro to power but he has long been hawkish in his position on sanctions against the island.
Rep. Carlos Gimenez, a South Florida Republican, called Biden a ‘pathetic coward’ on X.
‘Come January 20th, there will be a NEW SHERIFF in town & President Trump alongside Secretary of State will not only put #Cuba BACK on the list but PULVERIZE the regime once & for all,’ he wrote.
