“State Sponsor of Terrorism”

Senator Welch and Four Other Senators Add Support for Ending US Designation of Cuba as Sponsor of Terrorism

On December 18, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (Dem., VT) sent a letter to President Biden adding support for U.S. ending designation of Cuba as state sponsor of terrorism. His letter was also signed by Senators Jeffrey Merkley (Ore., Dem.), Bernie Sanders (VT, Ind.), Ron Wyden (Ore., Dem) and Chris Van Hollen (Md, Dem.). [1] The letter stated the following:

“We urge you, in your remaining days in office, to restore two key aspects of the policy of the Obama-Biden Administration towards Cuba: (1) remove Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism; and (2) restore the right of Americans to travel freely to Cuba as they can to every other country except North Korea, and end the Trump era “Cuba prohibition lists” that restrict where Americans can stay, where they can eat, and what they can buy and bring home.”

“The Obama-Biden policy of positive engagement was squarely in the national interest when it was adopted ten years ago today, and it was praised by a wide range of constituencies throughout this country. For two years, the approach you took with President Obama advanced U.S. security and enhanced the lives of the Cuban people.

“Today, after nearly eight years of unilateral sanctions and isolation, the national interest in restoring the Obama-Biden policy is even more urgent and compelling:”

“The decades-long policy of economic, trade, and travel sanctions and restrictions has produced no benefits, achieving none of our policy objectives. Cuba is no closer to becoming a democracy today than it was in 1961, and the human rights situation is worse than it was in 2017, especially since the crackdown of July 2021. And, with extreme shortages of food, medicines, fuel, and electricity, the Cuban people are now suffering their worst humanitarian crisis since the collapse of the Soviet Union.”
“Our sanctions against Cuba are a glaring contradiction to the Administration’s policy of addressing the “root causes” of migration. The past eight years have been catastrophic for the Cuban people. Since 2021, the standard of living of average Cubans has plummeted, resulting in extreme hardship and causing over 1.5 million desperate people to flee the island—more than half of whom have come to the United States. This mass exodus of irregular migrants is unprecedented in Cuban history.””
“Our sanctions against Cuba have provided an opening for our adversaries. Cuba has significant reserves of strategic minerals. Our adversaries, particularly Russia and China, have significantly expanded their influence with Havana since 2017.”
“Our sanctions have impeded U.S.-Cuba cooperation on important issues of mutual interest, from migration and maritime security to narcotics interdiction, disaster response, environmental protection, and public health.”
“Our sanctions have infringed on Americans’ rights and hurt our economic interests. Sanctions against Cuba have prevented Americans from traveling to the island, and have stopped U.S. agriculture, construction, biotechnology, and other companies from competing in the Cuban market.”
“Our policy of sanctions has put us at odds with allies and partners in this hemisphere and Europe, none of whom support it and who deeply resent its extraterritorial reach.”

“There is no justifiable or practical reason to continue a policy of sanctions against a country whose government poses no threat to the United States, and whose leaders have long profited by blaming our sanctions to deflect domestic criticism of their own repressive and bankrupt policies.”

“Indeed, the United States routinely engages diplomatically and economically with authoritarian governments with which we have profound disagreements. As you have noted many times, we do so not as a favor to those regimes but because a pragmatic approach best serves U.S. national interests and is far more likely to benefit the people of those countries. Cuba is no different. In fact, Americans have far more in common with the Cuban people than with those of many countries that are ru led by autocratic regimes, some of which are U.S. partners.”

“We recognize that given the limited time remaining in your presidency it is unrealistic to restore the Obama-Biden policy in its entirety. We therefore urge you to take these two critically important steps:

“Remove Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. Cuba’s presence on the list has no factual or legal basis, as a comprehensive national security review conducted during the Obama-Biden administration established. Beyond depreciating the credibility of the list and U.S. efforts to fight actual terrorism, Cuba’s status on the list compromises the private sector’s ability to conduct basic commercial transactions, hinders the ability of Cubans to import much needed medical equipment, and impedes humanitarian efforts to address the current crisis of deprivation in Cuba.”
“Restore the right of Americans to travel freely to Cuba as they can to every other country except North Korea, and end the Trump era “Cuba prohibition lists” that restrict where Americans can stay, where they can eat, and what they can buy and bring home.”

“We recognize that only Congress can repeal the embargo against Cuba. But as the Obama-Biden Administration demonstrated, you have the executive authority to change U.S. policy in ways that would materially benefit the people of both countries and serve our national interests.”

“We will actively endorse and support you in this endeavor.”

Reactions

This blogger endorses this letter and the suggested actions for President Biden.

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[1] Senator Welch, Letter to President Biden (Dec. 17, 2024); Senator Welch, Press Release: On 10-Year Anniversary of Normalization Agreement with Cuba, Welch Urges President Biden to Take Immediate Actions to Bolster Relationship (Dec/ 18, 2024); US senator sees ‘no justifiable reasons’ for designating Havana a sponsor of terrorism, Diario de Cuba (Dec. 20, 2024).

Cuba Planning March Challenging Biden To Cancel Hostile U.S. Policies

The Call for a Cuban Combatant March

On December 14 (the last day of the IX Plenary Session of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba) Cuban President Diaz-Canel delivered a speech in which he said that the Cuban people “expect changes and solutions to their problems, which cannot always come from the nation [of Cuba]. But at all levels, we must act with sensitivity to these problems, we must involve them increasingly in the response. Popular participation is simply indispensable.”[1]

Diaz-Canel then said there was the U.S. blockade that “has been intensified, there is an economic war, they despise us, they vulgarly, obscenely and hatefully poison us on social media. In response to this hostile policy, we call on the heroic Cuban people to march in combat on December 20. It will be a strong condemnation of the imperial blockade and the unjust inclusion of Cuba in the list of countries that supposedly sponsor terrorism.”

Therefore, he called for a “March of the Combatant People for next October 20.”

Granma Editorial Endorsing the Combatant March[2]

Here is what that editorial said:

“Far from fulfilling his electoral promise regarding relations with Cuba, President Joseph Biden, in his four years in office, has kept in force and in application almost all of the draconian economic coerción mesures imposed by the Trump administration, and has approved others, such as the recent legislation that legalizes the shameless theft of the Havana Club brand in the US market.”

“The policy of maximum pressure applied, the cornerstone of which is the reinforcement of the blockade, has had markedly harmful effects on the quality of life of the Cuban people, their access to food, health services, medicines, decent housing and numerous essential goods, and has caused the migration of thousands of people, sometimes in extremely risky conditions.”

“It is the rigorous concretization of the imperialist action design towards Cuba, outlined in the well-known memorandum of the Assistant Undersecretary of State, Lester Mallory, 64 years ago, who defined that the only way to confront the Cuban Revolution “… is through the disenchantment and dissatisfaction that arise from economic malaise and material difficulties… all possible means must be quickly employed to weaken the economic life of Cuba… a line of action that, being the most skillful and discreetly as possible, achieve the greatest advances in depriving Cuba of money and supplies, in order to reduce its financial resources and real wages, provoke hunger, desperation and the overthrow of the Government.”

“Since then, the strategy has consisted not only of bringing hunger and misery to the Cuban people, but also and, above all, in trying to make it seem that the cause of such misfortunes is the “inefficient management” of the Cuban government, and not the so-called “sanctions” of Washington.”

“But the numbers are clear in showing who is holding back the necessary development of the Cuban nation. The blockade affects our people to the tune of more than 421 million dollars a month, more than 13.8 million dollars a day, and 575,683 dollars in damages for every hour of its application.”

“The blockade is the most comprehensive, complete and prolonged system of unilateral and extraterritorial coercive economic measures ever applied against any nation.”

“”No country, even with economies much more prosperous and robust than Cuba’s, could face such a ruthless, asymmetric and prolonged aggression, without a considerable cost to the standard of living of its population, its stability and social justice,” says the report presented by Cuba this year to the United Nations General Assembly, where the overwhelming majority of UN member countries condemned this policy of force and suffocation.”

“In addition to the considerable damage caused to the economy, finances and trade by this aberrant policy, there are the restrictive measures resulting from the decision to include Cuba, in a malicious manner, in the infamous arbitrary and illegitimate list of countries that supposedly sponsor terrorism. It was a perverse move by the Trump administration, a few days before leaving the White House.”

“This designation is cynical, because Cuba, far from sponsoring terrorism, has been and is the victim of recurring terrorist activities financed and organized from US territory, with the consent of the authorities of that country.”

“Cuba has a clear and firm position in the fight against terrorism in all its forms. It has served as a key intermediary in the peace talks between the Colombian government, the ELN and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), in the same spirit with which it called on the member states of CELAC a decade ago to declare the region a Zone of Peace, ‘based on respect for the principles and norms of International Law.’”

“It is a cruel act because it is designed to maximize the suffering of the Cuban people. The inclusion of our country on the list of nations that support terrorism not only makes international transactions difficult, has export obstacles and financial restrictions, or hinders assistance to the country with humanitarian aid, but also threatens or penalizes citizens of countries that enjoy the privilege of traveling to Cuba, which includes Cuban nationals. It also interferes with banking transactions of natural persons and new non-state economic actors. It prevents the contracting of online services and restricts academic and scientific exchanges.”

“In May 2024, the State Department removed Cuba from the list of states that “do not fully cooperate” with the United States in the fight against terrorism, further highlighting the nefarious and opportunistic nature of the 2021 designation.”

“In defending the rational change of attitude, Secretary of State Antony Blinken not only cited the current position of the Colombian government, but also highlighted Cuba’s police cooperation and the non-existence of terrorist elements on Cuban territory.”

“But this is not enough. Cuba continues to suffer as a result of its cynical, cruel and illegal exclusion from the international economy and finances, given its continued inclusion on the arbitrary list of alleged sponsors of terrorism.”

“President Biden can put an end to that lie and heed the call of dozens of governments, numerous former presidents and prime ministers, hundreds of members of parliament, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and other religious leaders, and thousands of organizations around the world and in the United States itself.”

“In the days remaining in his term, President Biden can remove Cuba from the List of State Sponsors of Terrorism; he has the authority to do so. If he wants to leave some decency as a legacy in the final days of his political life, he can take that symbolic step. There is still time to do so.”

“The Cuban people will continue to fight against unjust aggression, against the genocidal blockade, against manipulation and lies, against spurious and coercive lists, against the million-dollar funds to subvert internal order and feed disinformation operations, and will demand with all their might justice and peace for Cuba and for our world.”

“This is what will happen on December 20, when, in their name, the people of the capital will march in combat along the Havana seafront to express, in front of the United States Embassy, their demand for an end to hostility, their condemnation of imperial ignominy, and their unyielding spirit of struggle and victory.”

“We will march with the profound conviction, instilled by Fidel, that there is no force in the world capable of crushing the power of truth and ideas.”

Reaction

As a U.S. citizen and resident, this blogger was involved in Minneapolis’ Westminster Presbyterian Church’s establishing a partnership with a Cuban Presbyterian Church in the city of Maranzas over 20 years ago, including making three mission trips to that church, and has maintained contact with fellow Westminster members so involved today and with visits of Cuban pastors to our church. As a result, this blogger has paid close attention to the ongoing bilateral relations and written many blog posts about same.

Although I do not subscribe to the negative comments about the U.S. in the current Cuban effort to promote the upcoming Combatant March, I do support the U.S. in the last days of the Biden Administration cancelling its current designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism because I think it is not justified and because Cuba has been going through a horrible time, politically and economically, and needs all of the help it can get. I also would like the embargo to be cancelled, but that would take congressional action, which is not possible now.

Tomorrow we will see the actual march.

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[1] With no solutions to the crisis that is overwhelming Cubans, Diaz-Canel calls on them to a ‘combatant march’, Diario de Cuba (Dec. 14, 2024).

[2] Editorial: A march against imperial ignominy, Granma (Dec. 16, 2024); Extreme pressure on Biden: the Cuban regime shows the purpose of the December 20 march, Diario de Cuba (Dec.17, 2024).

Former U.S. Officials Plead for Biden Administration To Relax Cuba Restrictions

A group of former officials in the Bush and Obama administrations have sent a letter to President Biden and Vice President Harris. This group inclues former Havana Chief of Mission Vicki Huddleston, former deputy national security advisor Ben Rhodes and Jeffrey DeLaurentis, former acting ambassador to Cuba.[1]

Their letter urged the removal of Cuba from the State Sponsors of Terrorism List, an increase of humanitarian aid to the country and streamlining rules for Cuban nationals to access the U.S. financial system. The letter said the following:

“As you are aware, the country’s energy grid is failing, child malnutrition is on the rise, basic services are deteriorating and most Cubans have lost hope, precipitating the largest exodus of migrants from Cuba in its history,”
“In no uncertain terms do we exonerate the Cuban government for its insufficient and incoherent policy reforms that have in large part caused this crisis. Yet we also believe that current U.S. policy has exacerbated Cubans’ hardship, and thus we respectfully request that you take a series of actions in the remaining weeks of your administration to help alleviate these challenges — in the U.S. national interest and in support of the Cuban people.”
“As many of us have said publicly, there is no credible evidence that Cuba sponsors international terrorism. The designation has hindered Cuba’s access to international finance, reduced tourism revenues to pay for imports of food, fuel and medicine and obstructed the arrival of humanitarian relief,” wrote the officials.”
“Our closest allies in the region have repeatedly requested we remove this designation to ameliorate the regional impacts of surging Cuban migration, and we are confident the United States will be applauded worldwide for making this fact-based determination.”
Jeffrey DeLaurentis added, “In my view the only reason the Trump Administration put Cuba back on the SSOT in its waning days in January 2021 was to make it more difficult for the incoming Biden Administration to reverse Trump Administration reversals of President Obama’s wise and forward-leaning policy.”
“Instruct the Office of Foreign Assets Control to guide financial institutions on how to serve qualified Cuban nationals without stepping astride of U.S. sanctions. They also called for a general license to allow U.S. citizens to invest in Cuban enterprises not linked to the country’s government.”
“As you said in 2020, Vice President Harris, the U.S. embargo is a failed policy that only emboldens hardliners in both Miami and Havana who do not represent the Cuban people’s aspirations for a brighter and more prosperous future. We commend the steps that you have taken while in office, President Biden, to restore remittances, resume visa processing, support independent Cuban entrepreneurs and expand travel for Cuban Americans.”
“However, to address the scope of the current crisis in Cuba, we believe that your administration must pay close attention and act decisively to mitigate the potentially dire implications of having a failed state just 90 miles off our shores.”

Reactions

This blogger agrees with this letter’s requests to the Biden Administration.

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[1] Bernal, Bush, Obama alumni ask Biden administration to ease up on Cuba before Trump takes office. The Hill (Dec. 17, 2024);Former US officials call on Biden to ease restrictions on the regime before the end of his term, Diario de Cuba (Dec. 19, 2024)

U.S. Congressmen Ask President Biden To Provide Sanctions Relief and Other Aid to Cuba

On November 15, a group of 18 U.S. Congressmen sent a letter to President Biden “with a deep sense of urgency to request immediate action to stabilize Cuba’s energy infrastructure and provide critical humanitarian assistance. The Cuban people are currently facing widespread blackouts and an escalating energy crisis, exacerbated by the impact of Hurricane Rafael. The situation is not only causing immense suffering for the Cuban people but also poses serious risks to U.S. national security interests. If left unaddressed, the crisis will almost certainly fuel increased migration, strain U.S. border management systems, and fully destabilize the already-strained Caribbean region.”[1]

“Since 2022, over 850,000 Cubans have sought refuge in the United States—the largest exodus in the island’s history. The ongoing collapse of essential services, particularly electricity, has further exacerbated this exodus. The latest energy crisis threatens to trigger another unprecedented wave of migration, with hundreds of thousands more Cubans likely to seek entry to the U.S.”

Therefore, their letter “respectfully urge your administration to quickly take the following actions to address this urgent crisis and safeguard U.S. interests:”

“Remove the State Sponsor of Terror Designation “

“We strongly recommend removing Cuba from the State Sponsors of Terrorism (SSOT) list. This will reduce barriers to oil shipments and clarify that carriers and insurers can operate legally in Cuba, facilitating access to energy and economic relief for the Cuban people.”

“Expedite Emergency Humanitarian and Technical Assistance to the Cuban People”

“The U.S. government should immediately provide humanitarian aid, including food and medicine, while deploying technical assistance and equipment to stabilize Cuba’s electrical grid. This aid should be delivered to the Cuban people without delay, and in coordination with international partners such as the European Union, FAO, WFP, and PAHO to maximize its impact.

“Issue Safe Harbor Letters to Address Overcompliance with Sanctions”

“One key barrier to increased non-government assistance to Cuba is the fear that private businesses and non-profit organizations have of running afoul of U.S. sanctions, whether or not a General License is available from Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). We strongly urge the provision of OFAC safe harbor letters to ensure that

humanitarian aid efforts to Cuba, including the provision of food, medicine, and technical assistance, fully comply with U.S. sanctions regulations and are protected from enforcement actions.”

“Suspend Sanctions Impeding Aid”

“We urge you to suspend sanctions that hinder the flow of humanitarian assistance, including restoring the EAR license exception to allow donations to Cuban health and humanitarian relief entities. These changes will enable quicker assistance from U.S. humanitarian organizations, religious groups, and private citizens to the Cuban people.”

“Facilitate Energy Infrastructure Repair and Modernization”

“The U.S. should fast-track the export of critical equipment needed to repair and upgrade Cuba’s energy grid. In addition, lifting Cuba-specific restrictions on oil and LPG exports will help prevent a total grid collapse.”

“Regardless of the Cuban government’s stance, it is imperative that the U.S. government demonstrates a willingness to aid the Cuban people directly. The Cuban government’s frequent attempts to blame the U.S. for the island’s problems should not deter us from offering the assistance necessary to alleviate suffering of the Cuban people and prevent further regional destabilization.”

“The escalating energy crisis in Cuba presents not just a humanitarian concern but a serious national security challenge for the U.S. If left unaddressed, the situation risks further destabilizing the Caribbean region, increasing migration flows, and straining U.S. border management systems, while strengthening the hand of malign actors in the Western Hemisphere. Acting swiftly to provide humanitarian and technical support will not only alleviate immediate suffering but also open avenues for broader diplomatic engagement. This engagement can extend to critical issues such as the release of political prisoners, human rights, and improved governance, building a foundation for more constructive dialogue between the two countries.”

“We understand that absent action from Congress, executive actions on Cuba are subject to reversal. That should not deter us from acting to avert further suffering and damage to United States interests. Even temporary relief can save lives and permit the Cuban people a chance to insulate themselves and their families from further vulnerability. We urge your administration to act swiftly to implement these measures and mitigate the growing crisis in Cuba while advancing U.S. interests in the region.”

The Congressmen who signed this letter were Barbara Lee, James McGovern, Gregory Meeks, Joaquin Castro, Pramila Jayapal, Ilhan Omar, Greg Casar, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Jesus “Chuy”” Garcia, Delia C. Ramirez, Nydia M. Velazquez, Raul M. Grijalva, Zoe Lofgren, Mark Pocan, Steve Cohen, Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Jonathan L. Jackson and Jan Schakowsky.

Comments

Thanks to these Congressmen for making these suggestions to President Biden in the last weeks of his Administration. They are measure that are needed by Cuba and by the U.S., and President Biden should implement them as soon as possible. He also should ask Congress to terminate the U.S. embargo of Cuba, but that faces the obstacle of Republican (slim) control of the House of Representatives.

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[1] Press Release, Representatives Lee, McGovern, Meeks, and Castro Lead Congressional Letter to President Biden Urging Sanctions Relief for Cuba Amid Humanitarian Crisis, (Nov. 10, 2024); Press Release, US Congressmen want Biden to facilitate the repair of Cuba’s ‘energy infrastructure,’ Diario de Cuba (Nov. 20, 2024); Letter, Congressmen Barbara Lee, James McGovern, Gregroy Meeks, Joquin Castro, Pramila Jaypal, Ilhan Omar, Greg Casas, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Jesus “Clay” Garcia, Delia C. Ramirez, Nydia M. Velazquez, Raul M. Grijalva, Zoe Lofgren, Mark Pocan, Steve Cohen, Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Jonathan L. Jackson and Jan Schakowsky to President Biden (Nov. 15, 2024); U.S. Congressmen ask Biden to remove Cuba from terrorist list, Granma (Nov. 19, 2024).

Former Foreign Presidents Urge U.S. To Cancel Designation of Cuba as State Sponsor of Terrorism

“A group of 35 former presidents, including Bolivia’s Evo Morales, Ecuador’s Rafael Correa, Brazil’s Dilma Roussef, Colombia’s Ernesto Samper and Spain’s José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, sent a letter to [President] Biden demanding that he remove Cuba from the list of countries that sponsor terrorism.”[1]

This group said that thie designation is “a coercive measure that is difficult to justify in the 21st century.“ After “decades of unilateral sanctions and coercive measures, Cuba’s economy is one of the most severely affected in the world and is now, socially, at a point of no return.” They reiterate “Havana’s narrative, which blames the problems facing the island on the sanctions, while the regime’s military conglomerate, GAESA, builds luxury hotels and Cuba imports hundreds of millions of dollars annually in all kinds of products, especially food, from” the U.S. The letter, however, fails to mention that the current historic exodus is subsequent to the economic package of the Task Order and the wave of [Cuban] repression after the social outbreak of 11J.”

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[1] Evo, Correa, Zapatero, Roussef: 35 former presidents ask Biden to exclude the Cuban regime as a sponsor of terrorism, Diario de Cuba (Sept. 14, 2024).

Russian Military Ships’ Recent Visit to Cuba

On June 12^th four Russian warships, including a nuclear-powered submarine and a frigate capable of carrying hypersonic missiles, arrived in Cuba. Their arrival and visit were monitored by U.S. and Canadian ships.[1]

Just hours later on June 12th a U.S. Navy nuclear-powered submarine (the USS Helena) stopped in the waters near the U.S. Guantanamo Naval Base at the eastern end of Cuba, and other U.S. and Canadian military vessels were in the island’s vicinity.[2]

According to the Official statement of Cuba’s Ministry of Revolutionary Armed Forces, the visit of the four Russian naval vessels was “part of the historic friendly relations between Cuba and the Russian Federation, [and] strictly adheres to the international conventions to which the State of Cuba is a party. Since none of these ships carry nuclear weapons, their stopover in our country represents no threat to the region.”[3]

While the Russian vessels were docked in Havana, they were open for visits to Cuban visitors, including its President, Miguel Diaz-Canel. The Russian vessels left Havana on June 18^th, and its frigate went north along the U.S. eastern coastline.

On June 18^th Alexander Moiseev, the commander-in-chief of the Russian Navy, said that “the proximity of the detachment of ships of the [Russian] Northern Fleet to the borders of our current opponent [the U.S.] irritates someone. For us this is very important, and we trusted the actions of our forces. In addition, it shows support for the Republic of Cuba, which is close to us. The campaign had an effect,” and the Kremlin “will continue the practice of sailing ships to distant maritime zones.” [4]

On the same date, June 18^th, the Pentagon’s Press Secretary, Major General Pat Ryder, said, “we obviously closely monitored [the Russian naval activity near Cuba and now near the U.S.. but we], don’t see any threat to the homeland and, and these types of exercises are not new. We’ve seen them take place . . . over the years.”

U.S. Congressional Hearing[5]

On June 12, the U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee held a hearing on “Great Power Competition in the Western Hemisphere” with the following witnesses: Brian Nichols, Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs; Todd Robinson, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Department of State; and Mr. Michael Camilleri, Acting Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean, U.S. Agency for International Development.

Chairman McCaul’s Opening Statement

The Committee’s Chair, Representative Michael McCaul (Rep., Tex.), opened the hearing with an Opening Statement, which stated, in part, the following:

“Under the Biden administration, China, Russia, and Iran have bolstered their presence in the region. They have cornered critical mineral markets, expanded their military footprint, and deepened their intelligence capabilities. All aided and abetted by many authoritarian regimes in the Americas. As we speak, four Russian warships, including a nuclear-powered submarine, and a frigate carrying hypersonic missiles are set to arrive in Cuba.”
“Congress has given the President tools to combat and compete with the great powers. It has authorized the [U.S. International Development Finance Corporation], appropriated bilateral economic assistance, and provided funding through the CHIPS Act – which I authored and passed into law – to secure our supply chains. It has mandated corruption sanctions against foreign officials and their family members.”
“And yet, the Biden administration has not effectively used all the tools Congress has provided. The result is a hemisphere more and more aligned with our adversaries.”
“Our adversaries cannot be separated. They are all connected and they are all working together. We can’t win the game if we are not on the field competing.
“And in the great power competition in our hemisphere, I believe, that America is falling behind.”

In his subsequent questioning of the three witnesses, McCaul said, “ I think we need a new doctrine for our hemisphere. One that protects our interests, combats our enemies, and promotes shared prosperity between us and our allies.”

Assistant Secretary Nichols’ Testimony

Assistant Secretary Nichols told the Committee that the U.S. in discussions with Cuban officials has raised U.S. concerns about Cuba’s allowing or promoting “the participation of Cuban mercenaries as part of Russian aggression against Ukraine.” This is just one of many actions that demonstrates the importance of the Cuba-Russia military relationship, including the arrival this week of four Russian vessels in Cuban waters, and their monitoring by U.S. and Canadian warships.[6]

Nichols also mentioned the recent U.S. efforts to encourage the growing importance of private business enterprises in Cuba, which the U.S. believes are vital to counteract the malign influence on Cuba of Russia and China.

Conclusion

Unfortunately the U.S. continued embargo of Cuba and identifying the island as a state sponsor of terrorism have contributed to a tense relationship between the two countries and to Cuba’s need for support from other strong countries like Russia. As has been argued in other posts to this blog, the U.S. should cease these policies that are harmful to Cuba and pursue a policy of reconciliation.

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[1] E.g., Russian ships arrive in Cuba as Cold War allies strengthen their ties, CNN.com (June 12, 2024).

[2] The US sends an attack submarine to the Guantanamo Naval Base, Diario de Cuba (June 13, 2024).

[3] The regime regarding the US nuclear submarine: ‘We were informed, but we do not like its presence, Diario de Cuba (June 15, 2024).

[4 ] What Is the Russian war flotilla that was in Cuba doing off the coast of Florida, Diario de Cuba? (June 19, 2024); The Russian war flotilla leaves Cuba, while US ships and tracking planes are activated, Diario de Cuba (June 17, 2024)

[5] House Foreign Affairs Comm., Committee Hearing Notice (June 5, 2024); House Foreign Affairs Comm., Hearing Webcast, Great Power Competition in the Western Hemisphere (June 12, 2024)

[6] Granma, the official newspaper of the island’s communist Party, said the arrival of these Russian vessels was “a sign of the two countries’ “relations of friendship and collaboration.” (In Cuba, naval detachment of the Russian Federation, Granma (June 13, 2024) https://www.granma.cu/mundo/2024-06-13/en-cuba-destacamento-naval-de-la-federacion-de-rusia-13-06-2024-02-06-11

Cuban Government’s Reactions to New U.S. Regulations for Cuban Private Enterprise

On May 28, the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a formal Statement about the new U.S. regulations and then held a separate press conference on that topic. Later Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel made a statement on that subject.

Cuba Ministry of Foreign Affairs Statement[1]

“On May 28, the Government of the United States finally announced a group of measures aimed at implementing the policy announced on May 16, 2022. The purpose of this step, according to the text published by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), is to support the private sector in Cuba.”
“These measures are limited in scope and do not target the essence of the blockade against Cuba nor the additional sanctions that make up the maximum pressure policy. Once again, this US government decision relies on its own distorted view of the Cuban reality, for it intends to artificially separate the private sector from the public sector, when they are both part of Cuba’s entrepreneurial system and the Cuban society as a whole.”
“With this announcement, the US government intends to address only one sector of our population. The coercive measure that most affect Cuba’s economy and public services and severely harm the wellbeing of our population are neither eradicated nor modified.”
“If these measures are implemented, the United States would seek to give advantage to the Cuban private sector, which was lawfully established and has been able to develop thanks to the measures taken, as a sovereign act, by the Cuban government in consultation with the Cuban people.”
“So has occurred with the access to the Internet, which was established and expanded by Cuba, despite the obstacles resulting from the blockade and the restrictions imposed to prevent free access to hundreds of tools and websites.”
“The Government of the United States has been explicit in its intention to use this sector for political purposes against the Revolution, in the interest of its change of regime policy.”
“Even if these measures were about a whimsical selectivity, both the private and the public sector will continue to suffer from the consequences of the blockade and the absurd inclusion of Cuba in the list of States that allegedly sponsor terrorism.”
“The coercive measures that are part of the economic blockade will remain in force, with their cruel impact on the entire Cuban population.”
“Obviously, the United States is ratifying its willingness to punish Cuba’s state sector, knowing that this is the one that offers essential services such as education, health, culture, sports and others to all Cubans, including the private sector; and that it is the guarantee of social justice and equity among all citizens. That is the reason why the US government recently adopted measures aimed at persecuting Cuba’s international medical cooperation. Several published documents have revealed that the US remains determined to depriving us from our revenues and destabilizing the country with the political purpose of dominating our nation.”
“The Cuban government will analyze these measures, and if they do not infringe upon our national legislation, and they are in fact an openness that would benefit the Cuban people, even if only one sector, it will not impede its implementation.”

Cuban Press Conference About New Regulations[2]

On May 28, Johana Tablada, the deputy director general of the United States at the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs, held a press conference regarding the new U.S. regulations about the Cuban private enterprise sector.

She said they “do not touch the body of the [U.S. embargo] blockade nor do they modify the extreme measures and regulations applied by the Trump and Biden governments in recent years. “once again, the United States Government tries to adapt its actions not to the reality of Cuba, but to a fiction that has been built on the reality of Cuba. ”

She stressed that the US Administration tries to separate the Cuban private sector from the public sector through its announcements and strategies and ignores that both sectors make up the fabric of the Cuban business system and society as a whole. This U.S. effort is about privileging a private sector that does not owe anything to the United States.

She also said Cuba will study these measures and, if they mean a real opening and are not just a political announcement, the [Cuban] Government will not put brakes on their implementation. But since Cuba is included in the list of countries that supposedly sponsor terrorism, it is very difficult for the measures announced this Tuesday to be applied in their full scope.

President Diaz-Canel’s Statement[3]

On May 29, Diaz-Canel said, the US measures are “limited, restrictive and do not touch the fundamental body of the blockade against our country, nor the other sanctions of its maximum pressure policy.”

“The intention to direct them only to a segment of our people shows their historical intention to fracture unity among Cubans.”

“The concern for the development of the non-state sector of our economy is not genuine.”

“They do not eliminate or change the coercive measures that most affect the Cuban economy and public services, thereby severely damaging the well-being of our entire population today.”

” We will continue to promote the increasing integration of all our economic actors, which today are, together, a cornerstone for our development and progrss towards the well-being of all our people.”

Comments

Both the U.S. and Cuba agree that the new Treasury Department regulations leave unchanged the U.S. embargo (blockade) of the island and the U.S. designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism. Cuba, of course, wants those measures eliminated while the U.S. merely assumed that they would continue. As a U.S. citizen, this blogger wants to see them eliminated and suggests that the U.S. use this opportunity to engage Cuba in discussions about doing just that while remembering that President Obama had discontinued the terrorism designation.[4]

The U.S. and Cuba also could have discussions about how to encourage the best operations of the latter’s new private enterprise sector. Given the horrendous current status of the Cuban economy, Cuba should welcome such discussions and be open to significant changes on those issues.

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[1] Statement of the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs, There is only one Cuba (May 29, 2024); Cuban Foreign Minister affirms that measures announced by the US are limited, Granma (May 29, 2024).

[2] Minrex: The new US regulations continue to be limited and do not touch the body of the blockade, CubaDebate (May 28, 2024).

[3] Diaz-Canel, The integration of all economic actors will be increasingly greater, Granma (May 30, 2024); US measures for MSMEs ‘respond to a subversive design’, says Diaz-Canel, Diario de Cuba (Mau 29, 2024).

[4 ]President Obama Rescinds U.S. Designation of Cuba as a “State Sponsor of Terrorism,” dwkcommentaries.com (April 15, 2015); U.S. Rescinds Designation of Cuba as a “State Sponsor of Terrorism,” dwkcommentaries.com (May 29. 2015),

More Reactions to New U.S. Regulations for Cuban Private Enterprise

On May 28, 2024, the U.S. Department of State held a Special Briefing on the Treasury Department’s new regulations on Cuban private enterprise.

First there were comments by three unnamed Senior Officials. Then there was Q&A with members of the press.[1]

Comments by Senior Officials

Senior Official One said, this development was “an important step to support the expansion of free enterprise and of . . . the entrepreneurial business sector in Cuba. . . . [We] recognize that this is a growing and dynamic sector of economic activity in Cuba, where people are gaining greater independence from the state, and we felt that it was essential as part of the Biden administration’s Cuba policy to ensure that this sector continues to expand and is supported.”

“We believe that the growth of an independent entrepreneurial private sector in Cuba is fully aligned with our values, is the best hope for generating economic development and employment in Cuba, and the growth of this sector is also consistent with the President’s guidance to implement measures that will benefit the Cuban people while continuing to minimize resources to the Cuban Government.”

“[P]roviding this support for Cuba’s private sector will help to stem irregular migration from the island by creating more economic opportunity on the island. It further allows Cuba to be self-sufficient without relying on their government for all of their daily necessities.

Senior Official Two added, “We know the Cuban economy is in dire straits. Amid recurring shortages of fuel, electricity, and increasingly even food, it’s clear the communist experiment in Cuba has failed and the government is no longer able to provide for its citizens’ most basic needs. In a country where there are no free elections, the Cuban people are voting with their feet, including by using dangerous irregular migration routes.”

“With over 11,000 private businesses registered – operating in diverse fields from food distribution, to construction, to auto repair – Cuba’s private sector is now responsible for nearly one-third of all employment on the island.”

“These changes have profoundly affected Cuban culture. Young Cubans are eager to earn private sector wages rather than work for the state. A class of independent business leaders is emerging. I know this because our team, including myself – both in Havana and in Washington – meets with these individuals. These entrepreneurs look to the United States for inspiration and to develop the necessary skills to run successful businesses. In an acute twist of irony, the island’s communist government must now rely on private enterprise to provide food and basic services for its people. It’s not an easy road for these entrepreneurs. The Cuban Government’s mismanagement of its economy has led to unparalleled high inflation. But because it is more nimble and efficient than the government, the private sector currently serves as a life preserver for the Cuban people without which they could not stay afloat. We believe the organic expansion of the private sector and evolution of the digital economy on the island – led by the Cuban people themselves, and not by any foreign government – is critical.”

“Above all, we must encourage the freedom of Cuban citizens to define their own economic future. Cuban entrepreneurs prefer U.S. values and our economic model and see the United States as their business partner of choice. We are focused on taking measures that inject a real sense of hope among the Cuban people and stem the tide of worsening humanitarian and migration conditions – all while remaining steadfast and promoting accountable for the Cuban’s Government’s continued abuses.”

Senior Official Three: “[These] updates to the regulations . . . support two priority policy goals: First, we wanted to increase support for the internet freedom in Cuba, but also increase economic support for the Cuban population. On internet freedom, we’ve added examples of authorized internet services and made updates to allow U.S. companies to provide services to install, repair, or replace certain items. So for example, some of the additional services that are now authorized include social media platforms, collaboration platforms, video conferencing, e-gaming and e-learning platforms, automated translation, web maps, and user authentication services.”

“[We] redefined the term ‘self-employed individual’ to ‘independent private sector entrepreneur’ to better reflect the types of individuals and entities that operate in the Cuban private sector. This new definition includes not only the definition of self-employed individual from our old regulations, but also includes private sector businesses, and private cooperatives, and sole proprietorships of up to 100 individuals – and this also includes farms.”

“By the latest count, there are over 11,000 registered private businesses in Cuba. It’s important to note that the new definition for independent private sector entrepreneurship excludes prohibited officials of the Cuban Government, such as the national assembly members, Cuban military officers, or certain ministry and staff regime propagandists, and prohibited members of the Cuban Communist Party. For a Cuban private sector business to qualify under this definition, its ownership cannot include such insiders.”

“[We] will also allow Cuban independent private sector entrepreneurs to establish and remotely access U.S. bank accounts, including through online payment platforms, to conduct authorized or exempt transactions. This will help facilitate independent private sector entrepreneurs in Cuba, importing food, equipment, and other goods that support the Cuban people. Third, to help facilitate remittances in payments for authorized transactions, including authorized transactions to and from the Cuban private sector, we have also reinstated authorization to allow U-turn transactions. These are funds transactions which start and end outside the United States but pass through the U.S. financial system, and they are a common occurrence in international commerce.”

“[Our] Cuba sanctions remain in place and the regulations continue to maintain restrictions on the Cuban Government and its military, intelligence, and security services. Today’s action is about support for greater freedom and expanded opportunities for the Cuban people.”

Responses to Questions

“On May 15^th the State Department determined that “Cuba’s continued certification as a not fully cooperation country [on terrorism] was no longer appropriate [and therefore terminated that designation].

Cuba, however, remains a State Sponsor of Terrorism under U.S. law, which “establishes a specific statutory criteria for rescinding the SST designations, and any review of Cuba’s status on the SST list would be based on the law and the criteria established by Congress.”

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[1] U.S. State Dep’t, Senior Administration Officials on the Cuba OFAC Rollout (May 28, 2024).

Cuba Reiterates Its Demand That the U.S. Stop Listing Cuba as a State Sponsor of Terrorism

The Cuban Foreign Ministry has reiterated its demand for the U.S. to stop listing Cuba as a State Sponsor of Terrorism.[1] This list, according to the Foreign Ministry,“is an absolutely unilateral and unfounded list, whose only purpose is to slander and serve as a pretext for the adoption of coercive economic measures against sovereign states, such as those ruthlessly applied against Cuba.”

“The clear and absolute truth is that Cuba does not sponsor terrorism, but has been a victim of it, including State terrorism. . . . [The U.S. and its agencies] are well aware of that fact and of the extraordinary damage caused to the Cuban economy by the measures, actions and the intimidating effect that is automatically unleashed against any State that appears on the list.”

The demand to end this listing “is loud and reiterated, on the part not only the Cuban people and numerous governments, especially in Latin America and the Caribbean, but also political, social and religious organizations within . . . the United States itself and several politicians from that country.”

“It is not enough [for the U.S.] to recognize that Cuba cooperates fully with the United States,” as it just has done.

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[1] Declaration of Cuba Ministry of Foreign Relations (May 16, 2024); Cuba States That Its Cooperation Against Terrorism Invalidates Finding That Cuba Is a State Sponsor of Terrorism, dwkcommentaries.com (May 18, 2024); U.S. Churches and Religious Groups Demand Ending of U.S. Designation of Cuba as a State Sponsor of Terrorism, dwkcommentaries.som (May 19, 2024)

U.S. Churches and Religious Groups Demand Ending of U.S. Designation of Cuba as a State Sponsor of Terrorism

In a May 9, 2024, letter to the U.S. Department of State 20 U.S. churches and religious groups called for the U.S. to end its designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism.[1] This letter made the following points:

“We write to express our deep concern regarding the plight of the Cuban people. The combined effects of failed U.S. foreign policies and Cuban economic policies have created dire humanitarian conditions on the island.”
“Among these are widespreadshortages of food and medicine, as well as a critical lack of energy resulting in near-daily power outages across Cuba. Hospitals are in special need of relief, as medical supplies of all kinds are critically short.”
“In addition, economic desperation has been a major factor in a recent and unprecedented surge in migration from Cuba to other countries. While these include Spain and other nations in Spanish-speaking Latin America, far and away the principal destination has been the United States. Since 2021, more than 500,000 Cubans have sought refuge in the U.S., a figure approximating 5% of the island nation’s population.”
The U.S. decision to list Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism “was a gross mistake and has had a hugely detrimental effect on the Cuban people and the ability of our partners to serve them.” More specifically, the listing “has led banks, financial institutions and international suppliers to withdraw support for regular trade and collaboration with religious groups providing humanitarian aid to Cuba.”
“As a result, the ability ofour denominations and faith-based organizations to offer crucial assistance and financial aid to Cuban partners has been severely limited, with financial institutions freezing funds allocated for religious and humanitarian activities.”
“The current U.S. policy of strangling Cuban society with an economic embargo to force them to overthrow their government is morally unacceptable and antithetical to our faith, as well as (to) basic human rights principles.”
“We urge you to remove Cuba from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list and take steps toward ending the economic embargo and normalizing relations with Cuba. Let us stand together to relieve the suffering of the Cuban people, help them to prosper in their own country, and seek to include them fully in the family of nations.” (Emphasis added.)

The Signers of the Letter

The signers of this letter were the National Council of Churches, Church World Service, Pax Christi USA, Episcopal Church, Presbyterian Church (USA), United Church of Christ, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), United Methodist Church, Mennonite Central Committee U.S., Friends Committee on National Legislation, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Church of the Brethren, the Alliance of Baptists, American Baptist Home Mission Societies and Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America.

Conclusion

As a member of Minneapolis’ Westminster Presbyterian Church, which belongs to the Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA) denomination and which has partnerships with a Presbyterian-Reformed Cuban church and a related Cuban seminary,[2] I am pleased to see that our denomination is one of the signers of this letter, and its statement about this letter referred to its “ties to the Cuban religious communities and the Cuban people” and stated that we have “deep concern for the effects that current U.S. policy is having across Cuba – on our Cuban partners and the general population. . . . In particular, the continued listing of Cuba on the State Sponsors of Terrorism (SST) list has led to great suffering among our Cuban partners and the Cuban people. We urge you to remove Cuba from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list and seek a path toward normalization in our nation’s relationship with the Cuban people and government.” (Emphasis added.)

I concur.

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[1] Baptist News Global, Church bodies press Biden on Cuba, (May 13, 2024).;PCUSA Joins 20 faith groups calling for Cuba to be taken off State Sponsors of Terrorism List, (March 13, 2023 [sic].

[2] See, e.g., these posts to dwkcommentaries.com: Minneapolis Westminster Presbyterian Church’ Connections with Cuba (Jan. 13, 2015); The Ridiculous U.S. Designation of Cuba as a “State Sponsor of Terrorism” (May 20, 2011); U.S. Stupidity and Cowardice in Continuing To Designate Cuba as a “State Sponsor of Terrorism” (May 6, 2014); President Obama Rescinds U.S. Designation of Cuba as a “State Sponsor of Terrorism“ (April 15, 2015).