Official announcement from the U.S. Department of State or a statement from the White House

Marco Rubio Urges Cuba's Reinstatement on Terrorism List Amid Biden Deal

Jan 15, 2025, 09:20 PM

During his confirmation hearing to become the next U.S. Secretary of State, Senator Marco Rubio stated that Cuba should be reinstated on the list of state sponsors of terrorism. Rubio's comments come a day after the Biden administration removed Cuba from this list as part of a deal to free political prisoners. Rubio, who has long been critical of Cuba's government, cited several reasons for his stance, including Cuba's support for the FARC in Colombia, its friendly relations with Hamas and Hezbollah, strong ties to Iran, and the harboring of fugitives from American justice. He emphasized that the decision by the Biden administration is not binding on the incoming Trump administration, which will take office on Monday.