The Communist Party USA welcomes the long-overdue removal of Cuba from the U.S. list of State Sponsors of Terrorism and considers it a significant step towards justice for the Cuban people and a welcome one to all those who champion peace and justice.

Despite its limited scope, this decision reflects years of struggle by the Cuban people, the international community, and broad sections of the world population, including democratic, labor, civil rights, and communist organizations across the globe.

Cuba was not, and is not, a “state sponsor of terrorism,” but a country that works tirelessly for peace, international cooperation, and social justice. The decision to remove Cuba from the SSOT list ends some of the punitive economic measures that severely damaged Cuba’s economy and its people, including the ability to access food, medicine, and fuel.

However, the illegal and aggressive economic blockade remains in force. After the Cuban revolution in 1959 ended a dictatorship backed by U.S. corporate interests, the U.S. government imposed a severe blockade against Cuba. In 2017, the Trump Administration added even harsher measures on the socialist country, including adding them to the SSOT list. It had taken Biden practically his full-term to remove this shameful designation, despite making a campaign promise to remove Cuba from the list when elected in 2020.

Furthermore, Cuba’s legitimate right to import fuel supplies is still blocked. The unjust persecution of its international medical cooperation agreements threatens millions of people’s health and places indefensible limits on the Cuban public health system. International financial transactions by Cuba and many Cuban nationals remain prohibited, and merchant ships docking in Cuba face continued threats by U.S. imperialism.

With a second Trump Administration incoming, anti-Cuba hawks led by Secretary of State appointee Marco Rubio, will likely try to reinstate the “state sponsor of terrorism” designation and further cripple the Cuban government and its people.

During the forthcoming confirmation hearing for Rubio as Secretary of State, all supporters of peace and democracy must call out and oppose his aggressively hostile anti-Cuba policies as one of the many grounds for rejecting his appointment.

The Communist Party USA stands in complete and unwavering solidarity with the Cuban people and the Communist Party of Cuba in the fight to end the blockade. We will continue our work to mobilize a massive coalition and pressure the U.S. government to end all hostilities against Cuba.

For a world of peace, justice, and socialism! Long live the Cuban Revolution! Until victory, always!

Image: People in Cuba demonstrate against the U.S. blockade by Juventud Rebelde

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