US Department of State returning Cuba to state terrorism sponsors
The United States Department of State has designated Cuba as a "terrorist state" for offering support to international terrorist groups and giving terrorists a safe refuge.
The
administration of outgoing US President Donald Trump tried to deprive the government
of the late Cuban leader Fidel Castro of the financial resources he uses in
persecuting his people. Trump also tried to make Castro less capable of having
influence anywhere outside his country, especially in Venezuela.
The
Cuban government offered refuge and financial support to wanted persons for a
long time. This came at a time Cubans suffered poverty and hunger and were
denied healthcare and medicines.
Some
members of the Columbian National Liberation Army, which was designated as a
terrorist organization by the US, visited Havana in 2017 to be part of peace
talks with the Columbian government.
The
Cuban government turned down repeated requests to hand over ten army commanders
who live in the Cuban capital. This came after the army claimed responsibility
for a 2019 bombing of the Police Academy in Columbian city of Bogota. The
bombing left 22 people dead and more than 87 others injured.
Cuba
also offers refuge to a large number of American nationals who are wanted by
American authorities.
Cuba
returns to a list of state terrorism sponsors, having failed in honoring its
2015 pledge to stop its support to terrorist groups.
