In a significant shift in US-Cuba relations, Cuba announced on Tuesday that it would release 553 prisoners in response to Washington’s decision to remove the communist island nation from its list of state sponsors of terrorism. This move comes after the Biden administration completed a reassessment of Cuba’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism, which had been imposed during the previous administration of Donald Trump.
The White House confirmed earlier that President Joe Biden had directed the removal of Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism, citing an absence of sufficient evidence to justify the designation. A senior Biden administration official stated, “An assessment has been completed, and we do not have information that supports Cuba’s designation as being a state sponsor of terrorism.” This step is being hailed by Cuba as a move in the “right direction,” although the country’s government noted that it still faces the harsh economic restrictions imposed by the United States since 1962.
The decision to remove Cuba from the list was part of a broader deal that will result in the release of protesters imprisoned during the widespread demonstrations that broke out in Cuba in July 2021. These protests, which were fueled by Cuba’s severe economic crisis, were the largest anti-government protests in decades. Thousands of Cubans took to the streets, shouting cries of “We are hungry” and “Freedom!” The demonstrations were met with a heavy crackdown by Cuban authorities, with more than 1,500 individuals arrested. As of last December, at least 600 of these protesters were still incarcerated. The protests also saw one death and numerous injuries, and Cuba has accused the US of orchestrating the unrest.
In a statement following the announcement, Cuba’s foreign ministry confirmed that 553 individuals, who were imprisoned for various crimes, would be released. This gesture is viewed as a response to the ongoing political and economic pressure on the Cuban government. The country has long blamed the US trade blockade for its dire economic conditions, which include shortages of food, fuel, medicines, and electricity. Analysts point to economic mismanagement and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, which devastated Cuba’s crucial tourism sector, as significant factors contributing to the country’s economic challenges.
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel has repeatedly described the US sanctions as “genocidal” and has vowed that Cuba would be prepared to face “more difficult circumstances” following the re-election of Donald Trump. Despite the continued tensions, Diaz-Canel has expressed Cuba’s willingness to engage in dialogue with the new US administration under President Biden. However, the US embargo and economic sanctions on Cuba remain a thorny issue in the bilateral relationship.
Biden’s decision to remove Cuba from the terrorism list has already sparked strong reactions in the US, particularly among members of the Republican Party. Senator Ted Cruz, a Cuban-American member of the Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee, criticized the move, calling it a “rank appeasement of the Cuban regime.” Cruz argued that the decision would send a message to adversaries that they could expect leniency from Democratic administrations while pressuring Republicans to continue opposing such engagement. Cruz added that the actions would “damage American national security” and “continue engaging in terrorism and other aggression against Americans.”
Biden’s announcement also includes the waiving of part of the Libertad Act, which had formed the basis of the US embargo against Cuba. Under this waiver, nationals who previously had claims to confiscated property in Cuba will no longer be able to file lawsuits in US courts against individuals accused of trafficking in that property. Additionally, Biden is rescinding a Trump-era policy, known as the “National Security Presidential Memorandum 5,” which had imposed restrictions on financial transactions with certain Cuban entities.
This decision, though hailed by some as a step towards greater diplomatic engagement with Cuba, faces substantial opposition from hardline critics in the US. With the situation in Cuba continuing to evolve and the Biden administration’s approach to Cuba under scrutiny, the coming months will reveal whether this shift in policy will result in lasting changes in US-Cuba relations or whether it will be reversed once again by future administrations. The release of the 553 prisoners is seen as an important development in the broader context of political and diplomatic relations between the two nations, but the complex and long-standing issues surrounding US sanctions and Cuba’s internal challenges remain unresolved.
