U.S Designates Communist-run Cuba As State Sponsor of Terrorism

The Trump Administration announced on Monday (Jan 11) that the U.S. is re-designating Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism, citing its harboring of terrorists.

“The Trump Administration has been focused from the start on denying the Castro regime the resources it uses to oppress its people at home, and countering its malign interference in Venezuela and the rest of the Western Hemisphere,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement.

“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 U.S,” the nation’s top diplomat continued.

The U.S accused the Cuban government of feeding, housing, and providing medical care for murderers, bombmakers, and hijackers, while many Cubans go hungry, homeless, and without basic medicine.

The re-designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism will reverse Obama-era decision days ahead of the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden.

The previous Obama Administration had previously removed from this designation, which subjects Cuba to sanctions that penalise persons and countries engaging in certain trade with it, restricts US foreign assistance, bans defence exports and sales, and imposes certain controls on exports of dual-use items.