US removes Cuba from short list of countries not cooperating on counterterrorism

The United States's State Department removed Cuba on Wednesday from its list of countries that are not "fully" cooperating with the U.S. on its fight against terrorism. 

Former President Donald Trump first designated Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism just before leaving office, and the country was added to the separate "cooperation against terrorism" list in 2022. But a State Department official said the cooperation in law enforcement activity between Cuba and the U.S. changes its status on the cooperation list.

"The department determined that the circumstances for Cuba’s certification as a 'not fully cooperating country' have changed from 2022 to 2023," the unnamed official told Reuters.

North Korea, Syria, Iran and Venezuela remain on the list of countries that are failing to cooperate with the U.S. on counterterrorism, which is presented to Congress every year. 

Cuba was on the list originally because it failed to work with Colombia to extradite members of the National Liberation Army to Colombia, but the South American country ended up dropping its arrest warrants, per the Associated Press.

"The US has just admitted what is known to everyone: that Cuba collaborates fully with efforts against terrorism," Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez posted on X. "All political manipulation of the issue should cease and our arbitrary and unjust inclusion on the list of countries sponsoring terrorism should end."

He also called for the U.S. to remove the country from the state sponsor of terrorism list, but that is determined under separate statues.

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just the News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.