Biden Removes Cuba from Terrorism List, But Blockade Remains a Major Obstacle to Reconciliation

In a significant shift in U.S. policy towards Cuba, President Joe Biden announced on January 14, 2025, that the United States would remove Cuba from its list of state sponsors of terrorism. This decision marks a rare policy adjustment in a decades-long saga of strained relations between the two nations. However, the move has been met with mixed reactions, with critics emphasizing that it falls short of addressing the broader issue of the U.S. economic blockade, which remains in place and continues to have a devastating impact on the Cuban people.

Biden’s Promise and the Reality of Limited Change

Livia Rodríguez, Chief Correspondent of Prensa Latina for South Asia, spoke to FinancialExpress.com about the significance of the Biden administration’s decision. Rodríguez noted that this action represents a correction of what she called a “foreign policy error” by the United States. She pointed out that Biden had previously promised during his 2020 campaign to shift U.S. policy away from the hardline stance adopted by Donald Trump, particularly in relation to Cuba. Rodríguez remarked, “Joe Biden had promised… that he would change the course of the policy towards Cuba, which Trump put in place to ingratiate himself with extreme right-wing groups in Miami.”

These remarks underscore a key point of contention in U.S.-Cuba relations: the influence of Cuban-American hardliners, particularly those in Florida, who have long pushed for punitive measures against Cuba. Under Trump, the U.S. added Cuba back to the list of state sponsors of terrorism in 2020, a move widely criticized for being politically motivated. Despite Biden’s earlier promises to undo these policies, Rodríguez noted that his actions came only “five days before Trump’s inauguration,” adding that this timing casts doubt on the permanence of the policy change. She expressed concerns that the decision might not last long, citing the potential influence of figures like Senator Marco Rubio, who has been a vocal opponent of Cuba and its government. Adding, “Senator Marco Rubio who although he was not born in Cuba, fervently hates Cuba and its people.”

The Cuban Foreign Ministry Responds

In response to Biden’s announcement, Cuba’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on January 14, 2025, welcoming the decision but cautioning that much more remains to be done. The statement highlighted that while the removal of Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism is a positive step, the broader economic blockade remains firmly in place. According to the Cuban government, this blockade continues to severely harm the Cuban economy and population, despite the limited scope of the U.S. move.

The Cuban Ministry expressed gratitude for the international support that led to this decision, acknowledging the efforts of various Latin American governments, political groups, and Cuban nationals abroad. “This decision puts an end to specific coercive measures… which seriously damage the Cuban economy and have a severe impact on the population,” the Ministry noted. However, it emphasized that the core of the U.S. policy—what it describes as an “economic, commercial, and financial war” against Cuba—remains intact, and continues to act as a major obstacle to the country’s development.

One of the key points made in the statement is that the economic blockade, imposed for over six decades, is a tool of U.S. foreign policy designed to “suffocate” the Cuban people. The Cuban government decried U.S. actions that continue to restrict fuel supplies, medical cooperation, international financial transactions, and the trade of goods and services. These measures, according to the Cuban Ministry, have had a devastating impact not only on Cuba’s economy but also on its healthcare system and the ability to provide basic services to its people.

A Mixed Legacy of U.S. Policy

While the removal of Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism is a symbolic gesture, its practical implications are limited. The U.S. government’s history of oscillating policies toward Cuba underscores the political volatility surrounding the issue. As Rodríguez noted, U.S. politicians often fail to provide consistent, ethical, or legitimate reasons for their actions toward Cuba, as seen in the back-and-forth between the Obama and Trump administrations.

President Barack Obama had made significant strides toward thawing relations with Cuba, including removing the country from the terrorism list in 2015, reopening embassies, and easing travel and trade restrictions. However, these changes were rolled back under Trump, who reinstated the harsh measures that had characterized U.S.-Cuba relations for decades. Biden’s current decision, while viewed as a step in the right direction, has been criticized for its timing and for not addressing the broader issue of the blockade.

Cuba’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs further pointed out that the U.S. could easily reverse its decision, as it has done in the past, given the lack of “legitimacy, ethics, consistency, and reason” in U.S. policy toward Cuba. The statement suggested that this inconsistency reflects a deeper ideological commitment in the U.S. to “put Cubans on their knees” through economic hardship, as expressed by U.S. officials in the 1960s.

The Continuing Struggles of Cuba

Beyond the diplomatic maneuvering, the day-to-day struggles of the Cuban people continue to be shaped by the enduring impact of the U.S. embargo. Cuba faces ongoing challenges in securing essential goods like food, medicine, and fuel, due to restrictions on international transactions and trade. The U.S. continues to target foreign entities that engage with Cuba, threatening sanctions and punitive measures against companies that do business with the island.

The blockade’s extraterritorial reach is perhaps one of the most contentious aspects of U.S.-Cuba relations. As the Cuban Ministry pointed out, “Merchant vessels touching Cuban ports continue to be under threats,” and U.S. citizens, along with their companies, are still prohibited from engaging in trade with Cuba, except under very limited exceptions.

Cuba’s foreign policy remains resolutely against foreign interference, with the government repeatedly stating its readiness to engage in dialogue based on mutual respect and non-interference. Despite the hardships caused by U.S. sanctions, Cuba continues to advocate for its right to self-determination and opposes the U.S.’s “genocidal” policies that it claims are aimed at subverting Cuba’s sovereignty.

A Step Forward or a Political Move?

The Biden administration’s decision to remove Cuba from the state sponsors of terrorism list is undeniably a significant moment in U.S.-Cuba relations, but it is far from the comprehensive change that many had hoped for. As Livia Rodríguez and the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs have emphasized, the U.S. still maintains a broad and harmful economic blockade that continues to suffocate the Cuban people. The timing of the decision—so close to the end of Biden’s term—suggests that this may be more of a political move than a long-term policy shift.

Ultimately, while the removal of Cuba from the terrorism list may provide some relief, it is clear that deeper structural changes are needed for a true reconciliation between the two nations. The international community, along with Cuba’s government, will continue to press for an end to the blockade and for a more equitable and just relationship with the United States.