Russia blasts Trump’s reinstatement of ally Cuba on US terror list
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Former US president Joe Biden had removed Cuba from a blacklist of state sponsors of terrorism.
PHOTO: AFP
MOSCOW – Russia on Jan 21 slammed US President Donald Trump for reinstating its ally Cuba on a list of state sponsors of terrorism, saying the measure was aimed at destabilising the island and prompting regime change.
Mr Trump on Jan 20 reversed his predecessor Joe Biden’s decision to remove Cuba from a blacklist of state sponsors of terrorism.
Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement that the order from the newly inaugurated Mr Trump was undoubtedly “aimed at further tightening financial and economic restrictions in the hopes of destabilising the situation and changing power in Cuba”.
The move is unjustified because Cuba is an active participant in “international cooperation on counter-terrorism”, Ms Zakharova said.
The US must realise such measures “have an extremely negative influence on the quality of life of the island’s population”, she added, suggesting it was aiming to provoke “social discontent”.
Russia will continue to provide “necessary support to Cuba” to back its demands for an “immediate and complete end” to the “illegal and inhumane” US blockade of the island, Ms Zakharova said.
Russia and Cuba have strengthened ties since Moscow launched its Ukraine offensive in 2022 with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visiting in 2024. AFP
