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Washington, D.C., January 13, 2025 — In a decisive foreign policy move, President Joe Biden has removed Cuba from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism. This shift signals a change in U.S.-Cuba relations. It is part of an agreement in which Cuba will release over 500 political prisoners.

This decision reverses the 2021 re-designation under the Trump administration. It marks one of Biden’s final acts before President-elect Donald Trump takes office. A thorough review by the Biden administration found no credible evidence to support Cuba’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism. The Catholic Church helped mediate talks, leading to Cuba’s commitment to free 553 political prisoners. Many were detained after the July 2021 protests over food and medicine shortages.

While Cuba is removed from the terrorism blacklist, the U.S. trade embargo remains. This reflects a careful balance between diplomatic progress and economic restrictions.

Cuba welcomed the decision but criticized the ongoing sanctions. Cuban officials called them “cruel and unjust,” stating they continue to harm the Cuban people.

Republican leaders, including Florida Representative Carlos Giménez and Secretary of State-designate Marco Rubio, condemned the move. Rubio, whose family fled Cuba in the 1950s, vowed to reinstate stricter measures. He called the decision “misguided” and a concession to authoritarianism.

Foreign policy experts see Biden’s decision as an effort to improve relations with Cuba while addressing humanitarian issues. However, critics argue that the policy change’s limited scope weakens its potential impact. They warn it may be reversed under the incoming administration.

With President-elect Trump set to take office on January 20, the future of U.S.-Cuba relations remains unclear. Many expect a return to the hardline stance of the Trump administration, raising questions about the longevity of Biden’s policy shift.