Cuba said Biden’s move was a step “in the right direction” despite its “limited nature.”
“This decision will put an end to specific coercive measures that, along with many others, are causing serious damage to the Cuban economy and seriously affecting the population,” the country’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Hundreds of prisoners will be “gradually” released after talks brokered by the Catholic Church, a separate statement read hours later.
Details of the prisoners were not released – it was hoped that the deal would lead to the release of some of the protesters who were jailed after mass anti-government protests in Cuba due to the country’s economic decline in 2021.
Cuba is currently close to North Korea, Syria and Iran List of US states that sponsor terrorism., external
This means that the US believes that it has “repeatedly supported acts of international terrorism”.
In putting Cuba back on the list after President Barack Obama removed it in 2015, Trump cited the communist country’s support for Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
At the time, Cuba called the move “cynical,” “hypocritical” and an act of “political opportunism.”
Along with the release of the prisoners, this decision is also important because it can be seen as a step towards the normalization of relations between Cuba and the United States.
This may open the way for dialogue on other controversial issues.
It could also help with Cuba’s dire economic situation, as some major banks and foreign investors have struggled to operate legally.
Biden is to tell Congress about his plans, which also include lifting Trump-era financial restrictions on some Cubans, the White House said in a statement.
It will also suspend the ability of individuals to file claims for seized property in Cuba, the statement said.
It is unclear whether Trump will reverse this latest decision when he returns to office on January 20.
The president-elect’s nominee for US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, has long advocated sanctions against Cuba.
His family left the country in the 1950s before the communist revolution that brought Fidel Castro to power.
