The Biden administration is anticipated to lift the U.S. designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism, according to officials familiar with the matter. This decision is expected to be reversed as early as next week after President-elect Donald Trump takes office and Secretary of State-designate Marco Rubio assumes the position.
The outgoing administration reinstated the designation on January 11, 2021, citing Cuba's support for Venezuela's leader, Nicolas Maduro, and its refusal to extradite Colombian rebels to Colombia, among other issues. This move was part of several foreign policy decisions made by the Trump administration in its final days.
Human rights groups and activists, including the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, have been advocating for the Biden administration to lift the designation. However, some Republican senators, such as Ted Cruz, have criticized the decision, stating that the terrorism advanced by the Cuban regime has not ceased.
Marco Rubio, who has been a proponent of sanctions on Cuba due to his family's history with the country, is expected to address his Cuban roots during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The final decision on lifting Cuba's state sponsor of terrorism designation is eagerly awaited by various stakeholders.
