The United States of America has removed Cuba from the list of countries that sponsor terrorism.
“While the United States has significant concerns and disagreements with a wide range of Cuba’s policies and actions, these fall outside the criteria relevant to the rescission of a state sponsor of terrorism designation,” read a statement from the State Department.
Cuba has been on the list for thirty-three years prior to it’s removal. Other countries on the list include Iran, added January 19, 1984, Sudan, added August 12, 1993, and Syria, added December 29, 1979
Speaker John Boehner has weighed on the issue, saying, “The Obama administration has handed the Castro regime a significant political win in return for nothing, removing the regime from the State Department’s list of state sponsors of terror is just the latest example of this administration focusing more on befriending our enemies than helping our allies, but fortunately it will have little practical effect.”
Congress had 45 days to attempt to stop the change, but did not take action.
South Florida Republican Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen has also told his opinion regarding the country closest to the state he represents. She said:
“Unfortunately, it is unsurprising that the Obama administration has removed the Castro regime from the state sponsor of terror list. As his December announcement made clear his primary interest was in pushing a political narrative about the Castros’ actions, instead of one rooted in reality, in his rush to cut a ribbon on a new embassy in name only, his administration has left unresolved many crucial issues such as U.S. citizens and businesses that have certified claims against the Cuban regime for illegally confiscated properties, fugitives from American justice who have been granted refuge by the Castro regime, and the regime’s abysmal human rights record.”
Cuba, added in 1982, was accused of supporting terroristic groups in Latin America. Mainly the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC.
“The main issue — the 800-pound gorilla — is the embargo, but it will give third country banks and companies a little more comfort that they are not running afoul of U.S. regulations if they do business with a country on the list.” said David Schwartz, who is the chief executive of the Florida International Bankers Association.
The removal also absolves some trade bans with the country. It may also open up the countries to embassies. The last time either country had an embassy inside their borders was January 1961.