CUBA | Cuba Calls US Policy Shift 'Limited' Despite Sanctions Relief

HAVANA, Jan. 14, 2025 - Cuba's government today delivered a measured response to Washington's decision to remove the island nation from its terrorism sponsors list, characterizing the move as "pointing in the right direction" while emphasizing that the core U.S. economic blockade remains firmly in place.

In a statement, Cuba's Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledged three major policy changes from Washington: the removal of Cuba from the State Department's state sponsors of terrorism list, protection against Helms-Burton Act lawsuits, and the elimination of a restricted entities list that has complicated Cuba's international financial transactions.

"Despite its limited scope, this is a decision that points to the right direction," the ministry stated, while expressing gratitude for international support, particularly from Latin American and Caribbean nations, that helped bring about the changes.

The statement highlighted ongoing concerns about U.S. sanctions, detailing how the broader economic blockade continues to affect daily life on the island. Cuban officials pointed to persistent challenges, including restrictions on fuel supplies, opposition to Cuba's international medical programs, and continued limitations on financial transactions.

"The economic warfare is still in place," the ministry emphasized, "and persists in posing a major obstacle to the development and recovery of the Cuban economy, with a high human cost for the population."

The timing of Washington's decision, coming at the cusp of a government transition, drew particular criticism from Havana. Cuban officials suggested the changes should have been implemented years ago "as an elemental act of justice, without asking for anything in return."

In a sharp rebuke to U.S. policy makers, the statement referenced a 1960 memo by then-Deputy Assistant Secretary Lester Mallory, which outlined intentions to pressure Cubans through economic measures. The ministry suggested this decades-old approach continues to influence U.S. policy, despite today's changes.

Nevertheless, Cuban officials concluded their statement by reaffirming their readiness for diplomatic engagement, stating they "continue to be ready to develop a respectful relation with that country, based on dialogue and non-interference in the internal affairs of both countries, despite the differences."

The policy shift represents one of the most significant changes in U.S.-Cuba relations since the Obama administration's historic reopening, though its practical impact remains to be seen. While U.S. citizens remain restricted from visiting Cuba as tourists, and most trade remains prohibited, the removal from the terrorism sponsors list could ease some financial and diplomatic hurdles for the island nation.

The changes come as Cuba grapples with ongoing economic challenges, including fuel shortages and inflation, which officials attribute largely to U.S. sanctions. According to Cuban authorities, these restrictions continue to affect everything from medical supplies to international banking transactions, despite today's announced reforms.

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