By Staff Writer
In a move that could also benefit British passport holders in the Cayman Islands, US President Joe Biden has announced that he will remove Cuba from the list of countries deemed as state sponsors of terrorism. This suggests that American travel restrictions imposed on Cayman’s closest neighbouring country could also be relaxed.
British-passport-holding residents of the Cayman Islands who visit Cuba have had their ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) visas to the US severely restricted and even suspended under the SST(State Sponsor of Terrorism) designation slapped on Cuba by Washington.
The announcement comes just days ahead of outgoing President Joe Biden handing over the reins of power to second-time incoming President Donald Trump.
The U.S. Department of State designated Cuba as a State Sponsor of Terrorism (SST) on January 12th, 2021.
The deal, brokered by the Catholic Church, would see what has been described as the gradual release of over 500 political prisoners by the Cuban government.
According to the US State Department, “The Catholic church is significantly advancing an agreement with Cuba to undertake a set of actions that will allow for the humanitarian release of a significant number of political prisoners in Cuba and those who have been detained unjustly.”
The Cuban government said in a statement: “Despite its limited scope, this is a decision that points to the right direction and is in line with the sustained and firm demand by the government and the people of Cuba, as well as the broad, emphatic and reiterated call by numerous governments, particularly those of Latin America and the Caribbean.”
In an official document dated January 14th 2025 detailing the policy decision, the White House outlined that,“ (i) The Government of Cuba has not provided any support for international terrorism during the preceding 6-month period, and (ii) The Government of Cuba has provided assurances that it will not support acts of international terrorism in the future.”
However, it is not clear if incoming second-time President Donald Trump will reverse Mr Biden’s removal of the SST against Cuba once he is back in the White House. Trump had reinstated Cuba to the US list of state sponsors of terrorism during his previous term citing the Cuban government’s support for Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
Prior to that, former US president Barack Obama had removed the communist-run island from the SST list back in 2015.
Expert analysis of the development by the BBC suggests that the decision is also significant because it can be seen as a step towards normalising relations between Cuba and the US. “This could pave the way for dialogue on other contentious issues. It could also help Cuba’s dire economic situation, as some major banks and foreign investors have struggled to operate there legally.”
Under the SST, with limited exceptions, a traveller who is found to have visited Cuba on or after this date is not eligible for travel under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) using an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) and must apply for a visa to travel to the United States.
The US Statement Department directive had also stated that additionally, a traveller who at the time of application for an ESTA holds dual nationality with both a VWP country and Cuba is not eligible for travel under the VWP using an ESTA and must apply for a visa to travel to the United States. If an ESTA has already been approved and it is later determined that the traveller has been present in Cuba or holds dual nationality with both a VWP country and Cuba, the ESTA will be revoked.
Despite the removal of Cuba from the SST list, the crippling decades-long US trade embargo remains in place.
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