US Secretary Of State Antony Blinken Removed Cuba From State Department’s Short List Of Countries

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has removed Cuba from the State Department’s short list of countries that it deems less than fully cooperative against violent groups. In a statement, the State Department said Mr Blinken had found that Cuban and US law enforcement were again working together on counterterrorism and other efforts. 

The State Department had cited Cuba as a “not fully cooperating country” in 2022. The statement said that the United States and Cuba resumed law



enforcement cooperation in 2023, including on counterterrorism.

The State Department, in compliance with US laws on arms exports, maintains a list of countries perceived as not cooperating fully on counterterrorism.

The US kept North Korea, Syria, Iran and Venezuela on the list in the rulings.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez acknowledged the decision, but he said that Washington could do more.