The Trump administration has re-listed Cuba as a “state sponsor of terrorism,” reversing a decision made by the Obama administration in 2015 as part of an effort to improve relations with the country.
“The Trump administration has focused from the beginning on denying the Castro regime the resources it uses to oppress its people at home and in combating its malicious interference in Venezuela and the rest of the Western Hemisphere,” Mike Pompeo
Mike PompeoLegists push back on late designation of Trump’s terror for Houthis Pompeo’s dispute in Yemen with US global news agency intensifies Trump administration calls Cuba “state sponsor of terrorism” MORE in a statement on Monday, referring to Raúl Castro. “With this action, we will again hold the Cuban government accountable and send a clear message: the Castro regime must end its support for international terrorism and the subversion of US justice.”
The move, which comes just over a week before the president-elect Joe Biden
Joe Biden Police Capitol confirms investigation into officers’ behavior during riots GOP lawmakers say Trump assumes some responsibility for the Capitol riot The Army Chief of Staff disputes the Capitol Police Chief’s account of the National Guard. is about to take office, putting Cuba on a list of countries such as Syria, Iran and North Korea. He is subjecting Havana to new sanctions, including restrictions on US foreign assistance and bans on exports and defense sales.
In his statement, Pompeo accused Cuba of harboring “killers, bombers and hijackers” as justification for the move. He used as an example the country’s decision to offer refuge to an American convicted of killing a state soldier in 1973.
The Trump administration’s decision comes two months after Biden lost President Trump
GOP leader Donald TrumpHouse tells members to stop spreading lies during uprising in the state of Florida, which has a large Latino population and where Republicans sought to paint Democrats as socialists.
The administration also aims to designate Yemen’s Houthi rebels as a terrorist organization, a decision that has outraged humanitarian aid organizations critical of the US role in the Saudi-led war in that country.