State Department lists Cuba as noncooperating country over harboring terrorists – Washington Examiner
The U.S. State Department has designated Cuba as a “not fully cooperating country” due to its harboring of 11 fugitives, some of whom face terrorism-related charges. This designation, announced by spokeswoman Tammy Bruce, is a violation of the Arms export Control act and prohibits Cuba from receiving defense articles and services. The State Department criticized Cuba for failing to engage in counterterrorism efforts, especially concerning fugitives like Joanne Chesimard, who was convicted of killing a police officer, and suspects tied to a deadly bombing in Colombia attributed to the National Liberation Army (ELN). The ongoing U.S.-Cuba relations have fluctuated over the years, with recent designations reflecting long-standing tensions related to terrorism and cooperation in law enforcement matters.
State Department lists Cuba as noncooperating country over harboring terrorists
The State Department designated Cuba a “not fully cooperating country” over its harboring of 11 fugitives.
In a Tuesday statement, State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said the designation came over a violation of section 40A of the Arms Export Control Act, committed in 2024. The designation forbids Cuba from receiving defense articles and services.
“In 2024, the Cuban regime did not fully cooperate with the United States on counterterrorism. There were at least 11 U.S. fugitives from justice in Cuba, including several facing terrorism-related charges, and the Cuban regime made clear it was not willing to discuss their return to face justice in our nation,” Bruce said. ”The Cuban regime’s refusal to engage on this important issue, as well as other recent circumstances of non-cooperation on terrorism-related law enforcement matters, made efforts to cooperate on counterterrorism issues futile in 2024.”
“The United States will continue to promote international cooperation on counterterrorism issues. We also continue to promote accountability for countries that do not stand against terrorism,” she added.
North Korea, Iran, Syria, and Venezuela have also been hit with an NFCC designation.
In the case of Cuba, one of the suspects is Joanne Chesimard, aka Assata Shakur, who was convicted of killing a New Jersey state trooper in 1973. The other 10 are suspects wanted in Colombia for the 2019 Bogota car bombing, when a National Liberation Army, or ELN, militant drove an explosives-laden vehicle into a police academy, killing himself and 21 others while injuring dozens more.
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At the time of the bombing, 10 ELN leaders were in Havana for peace talks. The Cuban government’s sheltering of the group’s leaders, which modeled the left-wing militant group after the Cuban Revolution, has become a major point of contention between Colombia and Cuba.
U.S. relations with Cuba have become a seesaw over the previous three administrations. After a warming of relations during the Obama administration, President Donald Trump redesignated Havana a state sponsor of terrorism in the final days of his first term. The Biden administration reversed the decision in its final days, leading to the current NFCC designation.
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