The Biden administration is poised to lift the designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism, a move expected to take place as early as next week. This decision reverses a policy reinstated by the Trump administration in its final days, citing Cuba's support for Venezuela's leader Nicolas Maduro and the harboring of wanted Americans among the reasons for the designation. The shift marks a significant change in U.S.-Cuba relations following a period of rapprochement during President Barack Obama's second term.
The Trump administration's rationale also included Cuba's refusal to extradite Colombian rebels to Colombia. These actions were key factors in labeling Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism, a designation initially reversed under the Obama administration. The anticipated reversal by President Joe Biden aims to mend diplomatic ties with the Caribbean nation, which have been strained since Trump's policy shift.
As the Biden administration prepares for this policy change, Marco Rubio, the incoming Secretary of State-designate, is expected to assume his role as America's top diplomat shortly. Rubio, known for his firm stance on sanctions against Cuba, has familial ties to the island nation. His family fled Cuba in the 1950s before Fidel Castro's communist revolution. Rubio is likely to address his Cuban heritage during his upcoming testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, scheduled for Wednesday.
While White House National Security Council officials have declined to comment on the matter, the upcoming confirmation hearing for Rubio will be closely watched. His testimony is expected to offer insights into his approach towards Cuba and possibly influence the direction of U.S. foreign policy regarding the island.
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