State Department Redesignates Cuba as a Country Not Cooperating Against Terrorism
The State Department this week added Cuba back to the list of countries that aren’t cooperating fully with U.S. counterterrorism efforts, about one year after the Biden administration delisted the island nation (see 2405170040).
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The agency on May 13 certified under the Arms Export Control Act that Cuba “did not fully cooperate with U.S. counterterrorism efforts in 2024,” saying there were at least 11 U.S. fugitives from justice in Cuba, including several facing terrorism-related charges. Cuba has “made clear it was not willing to discuss their return to face justice in our nation,” the State Department said.
Cuba’s placement on the list means it’s prohibited from receiving certain U.S. exports of defense articles and services.
The Biden administration last year said Cuba’s certification as a country that's not fully cooperating was “no longer appropriate,” although it stressed that Cuba remained subject to a U.S. trade embargo. Republicans had asked the State Department to place Cuba back on the list (see 2406280003 and 2411260005).
Along with Cuba, the State Department continued to certify that North Korea, Iran, Syria and Venezuela aren’t cooperating fully with U.S. counterterrorism efforts.