Cairo: Hani Kamal El-Din
In a surprising move, U.S. President Donald Trump has re-listed Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism, just six days after reversing an executive order signed by President Joe Biden. This decision has sparked widespread criticism from the Cuban government, which described it as an “act of arrogance and disregard for the truth.” Additionally, Trump signed another executive order reinstating a ban on transgender individuals serving in the U.S. military.
Details of the Decision
According to reports by The Wall Street Journal, Trump’s decision to re-list Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism comes after he revoked an executive order that was part of a deal with the Cuban government. The deal stipulated the release of 553 political prisoners in Cuba, but so far, only 88 have been freed.
With Trump’s reversal, the future of the remaining prisoners’ release remains uncertain, raising questions about whether Havana will continue to honor the agreement.
International Reactions
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel responded to the decision on X (formerly Twitter), calling it an “act of arrogance and disregard for the truth.” He emphasized that Cuba would continue to defend its sovereignty and reject any attempts to interfere in its internal affairs.
Reinstating the Transgender Military Ban
In addition to the Cuba decision, Trump signed an executive order reinstating the ban on transgender individuals serving in the U.S. military. This move reflects Trump’s previous policies, which barred transgender people from military service, a ban that Biden had earlier overturned.
