The Trump administration on Monday renamed Cuba as a “sponsor of terrorism” in a move that strikes the country with new sanctions shortly before President-elect Joe Biden takes office.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the measure, citing in particular that Cuba continues to harbor American fugitives, as well as its support for Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
The appointment is one of the last in a series of last-minute measures that the Trump administration is taking before Biden takes office on January 20.
Removing Cuba from the black list was one of the main achievements of President Barack Obama’s foreign policy, as he sought better relations with the communist island, an effort endorsed by Biden as his vice president. The ties were essentially frozen after Fidel Castro came to power in 1959.
As with Iran, Trump sought to reverse many of Obama’s decisions involving Cuba. He took a tough stance on Havana and reversed many of the sanctions that the Obama administration had eased or lifted after the restoration of full diplomatic relations in 2015.
Since Trump took office, after a campaign that attacked Obama’s measures to normalize relations with Cuba, ties have become increasingly tense.
In addition to attacking Cuba for its support for Maduro, the Trump administration has also suggested that Cuba may have been behind or allowed alleged attacks that left dozens of US diplomats in Havana with brain injuries since the end of 2016.
However, few US allies believe that Cuba remains a sponsor of international terrorism, contesting either the definition based on support for Maduro or openly rejecting American claims that Cuban authorities are financing or planning international terrorist attacks.
However, the Trump administration has followed an antagonistic policy towards Cuba, constantly increasing restrictions on flights, trade and financial transactions between the United States and the island.
The latest sanctions reinstated by the Trump administration include major restrictions that will prevent most U.S. travel to Cuba and money transfers between the two countries, a significant source of income for Cubans who have relatives in the United States.
Obama’s removal of Cuba from the list of “terrorist sponsoring states” was one of the main targets of Trump, Pompeo and other Cuban hawks in the current government. Former national security adviser John Bolton was a leading advocate of restoring sanctions.
More details coming soon …