WASHINGTON – The Trump administration is putting Cuba back on the list of countries considered to be state sponsors of terrorism, said a senior U.S. official, who in 2015 attempted by the Obama administration to forge ties with former Cold War adversaries. thaw, moved in.
The repurposing, announced Monday, could complicate President-elect Joe Biden’s efforts to improve ties with Havana. It is the latest in a series of foreign policy steps that the government has taken in recent days to try to establish policy before leaving office.
The Foreign Ministry list to which Cuba is added includes Syria, Iran and North Korea. Cuba was dropped from that list in 2015 because the Obama administration wanted to build ties with the country, part of a campaign that included boosting commercial air travel, reopening embassies and a visit by President Obama to the country.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is expected to argue that the move is justified because Cuba has been sheltering an American convicted in 1973 of the murder of a New Jersey state agent, and is making other complaints against the Cuban government.
A formal statement from the administration explaining the decision is expected to be issued later on Monday.