Trump Administration Revives Hardline Policy Against Cuba

The U.S. Department of State announced that the Trump administration is reviving hardline policies against Havana by reversing the 'last-minute changes' made by the Biden administration regarding Cuba. The aim of this action is stated to be the preservation of U.S. interests and support for the Cuban people. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced in a statement on Friday, February 1, 'We have kept Cuba on the list of state sponsors of terrorism, a position it deserves, and we have taken other actions in this regard.' He emphasized that 'the repression of the Cuban people and the destructive actions of this regime must end,' adding, 'The Cuban regime has long supported international terrorism. We demand that this regime end its support for terrorism and stop providing food, housing, and medical care to murderers, bombers, and foreign hijackers while the Cuban people are hungry and lack access to basic medicines.' The U.S. Secretary of State also noted, 'We condemn the repression of the Cuban people by the rulers of this country and Havana's malicious intervention throughout the Americas and around the world, and we support the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the Cuban people and call for the release of all wrongfully detained political prisoners in this country.' Just days before Donald Trump's inauguration, President Joe Biden implemented a series of measures to ease sanctions against Cuba, stating that the lifting of some stringent restrictions against the Cuban government was aimed at creating conditions for the release of political prisoners in Havana.