The Biden administration’s foreign policy legacy took another major hit this week as the U.S. government officially cut off military cooperation with Cuba, citing non-cooperation in counterterrorism efforts. This stunning development marks a sharp reversal of a 2021 Biden decision to ease restrictions on the communist island.
On Tuesday, the U.S. State Department confirmed that Cuba is now designated as a “not fully cooperating country” in the global fight against terrorism. The move bans the sale or export of defense articles and services to Havana and reinforces concerns about Cuba’s alleged harboring of U.S. fugitives, some facing terrorism charges.
“The Cuban regime did not fully cooperate with the United States on counterterrorism in 2024,” stated State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce. “At least 11 U.S. fugitives, including those linked to terrorism, are being sheltered in Cuba, and officials in Havana refused to engage in discussions for their extradition.”
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Cuba’s Non-Compliance Triggers Harsh U.S. Response
Under Section 40A of the Arms Export Control Act, this designation as a “Not Fully Cooperating Country” (NFCC) has serious implications. It effectively blocks U.S. military exports and reestablishes a hardline stance similar to that taken by the Trump administration, which had returned Cuba to the list of state sponsors of terrorism in 2021.
The Biden administration’s decision to remove Cuba from the list in late 2021 had drawn criticism from both Republicans and Democrats, including Florida’s Democratic Party, which issued a scathing statement at the time:
“We condemn in the strongest terms Cuba’s removal from this list and any lifting of sanctions,” the party said. “We call on the Biden Administration to reverse course immediately.”
Trump’s Hardline Policies Vindicated?
This move comes full circle. It was President Donald Trump who reinstated Cuba’s designation after President Barack Obama had removed it during efforts to normalize relations. Obama even visited Havana in 2016, marking the first U.S. presidential visit to Cuba in nearly 90 years.
Trump’s national security officials cited concerns about Cuba’s support for terrorist organizations and its unwillingness to extradite U.S. criminals, including radicals from the 1970s and 1980s who fled American justice.
Now, with tensions rising again, the State Department’s latest action is being seen as a direct rebuke of Biden’s earlier appeasement efforts.
Ties to China and Russia Raise Red Flags
The announcement followed a high-profile meeting in Moscow between Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel and Chinese President Xi Jinping, sparking renewed fears about Cuban intelligence cooperation with America’s adversaries.
U.S. lawmakers from the House Homeland Security Committee and the House Select Committee on the CCP recently wrote to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem expressing concern about suspected Chinese spy operations being conducted through facilities in Cuba.
The meeting, held during Russia’s World War II Victory celebrations, added weight to claims that Cuba is aligning itself with anti-American alliances, particularly the China-Russia bloc.
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Cuba Joins List of America’s Adversaries
Along with Cuba, the State Department also recertified Iran, North Korea, Syria, and Venezuela as not fully cooperating countries in 2024. These nations remain at the center of U.S. concerns over global terrorism, espionage, and authoritarian repression.
The inclusion of Cuba—just years after its brief exit from the terrorism list—serves as a warning sign about the dangers of reversing long-term foreign policy strategies based on short-term diplomatic gestures.
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