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Cuba placed back on US terrorism sponsor list

EPA A man walking in Old Havana, CubaEPA

The US has placed Cuba back on a list of state sponsors of terrorism, citing the communist country's backing of Venezuela.

President Donald Trump's administration made the announcement just days before he leaves the White House.

President-elect Joe Biden, who takes office on 20 January, has previously said he wants to improve US-Cuban relations.

Cuba called the move "political opportunism".

Mr Biden has said he is seeking closer ties between the long-term adversaries but Mr Trump's decision is likely to hinder a quick repair of relations.

Cuba's place on the list will require a formal review that could take months, analysts say.

The Caribbean island was removed from the list by President Barack Obama in 2015, but Mr Trump has taken a harder line towards the country.

EPA In 2016 Barack Obama became the first US president to visit Cuba since 1928EPA
In 2016 Barack Obama became the first US president to visit Cuba since 1928

When explaining the decision, officials cited Cuba's support of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro who the US refuses to recognise.

"With this action, we will once again hold Cuba's government accountable and send a clear message: the Castro regime must end its support for international terrorism and subversion of US justice," US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement on Monday.

In response, Cuban Foreign Affairs Minister Bruno Rodriguez tweeted: "We condemn the cynical and hypocritical qualification of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism, announced by the United States."

In advance of the announcement, House Democrat Gregory Meeks called it "another stunt by President Trump and Pompeo, trying to tie the hands of the incoming Biden administration on their way out the door."

What's changed in US-Cuba policy under Trump?

Mr Biden's plans included allowing Cuban-Americans to visit family and send money.

President Obama began to normalise relations with Cuba in 2015. He called the decades-long US efforts to isolate the country "a failure".

Since the Cold War era, the US had pursued various policies to undermine Cuba which it saw as a great threat.

Cuba now rejoins countries including Iran and North Korea on the list of sponsors of terrorism. The impact on the island country include severe limits on foreign investment.