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.

"Cuba also harbors several U.S. fugitives from justice wanted on or convicted of charges of political violence, many of whom have resided in Cuba for decades. For example, the Cuban regime has refused to return Joanne Chesimard, on the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorists List for executing New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster in 1973; Ishmael LaBeet, convicted of killing eight people in the U.S. Virgin Islands in 1972; Charles Lee Hill, charged with killing New Mexico state policeman Robert Rosenbloom in 1971; and others." the state department statement said

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.