Cuba Designated as ‘Not Fully Cooperating’ on Counterterrorism Efforts by U.S. State Department

The United States State Department has officially designated Cuba as a "not fully cooperating country" (NFCC) due to its failure to adequately assist with counterterrorism efforts. This determination stems from Cuba’s refusal to extradite at least eleven fugitives to the United States in 2024, a move that has triggered a ban on the sale or licensing of defense services to the island nation.

State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce announced the NFCC certification, which is mandated under Section 40A of the Arms Export Control Act. Bruce emphasized that the Cuban regime’s lack of cooperation on counterterrorism matters made collaborative efforts impossible in 2024.

"In 2024, the Cuban regime did not fully cooperate with the United States on counterterrorism," Bruce stated, highlighting the presence of at least eleven U.S. fugitives in Cuba, some facing terrorism-related charges. She added that the Cuban government had shown no willingness to discuss their return to face justice in the United States.

The NFCC designation signifies a setback in U.S.-Cuba relations, which have experienced periods of both engagement and tension in recent years. The decision to reinstate Cuba as an NFCC reflects concerns about the country’s commitment to working with the U.S. on critical security matters.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also re-certified several other nations, including Iran, Syria, Venezuela, and North Korea, as NFCCs, underscoring the U.S.’s ongoing focus on countries perceived as not fully cooperating on counterterrorism.

The NFCC designation follows a recent decision by the Biden administration to lift Cuba’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism. This move, made in January, reversed a decision by the Trump administration in 2021. At the time, President Joe Biden stated that the Cuban government had not provided support for international terrorism in the preceding six months and had given assurances against future support.

However, the decision to remove Cuba from the state sponsor of terrorism list drew criticism from both Democrats and Republicans, who questioned the administration’s approach to Cuba.

Cuba was initially placed on the state sponsor of terrorism list in January 2021, shortly before Biden took office. The U.S. Embassy in Cuba cited Cuba’s history of providing safe harbor to terrorists as justification for the designation, marking a return to a list that Cuba had been on from the Reagan administration until the Obama administration.

In 2016, former President Barack Obama became the first U.S. president to visit Cuba since 1928, signaling a shift towards normalizing relations. The Obama administration’s efforts to improve ties with Cuba began in 2015 but faced resistance from President Donald Trump, who argued that Cuba had not cooperated on counterterrorism.

Under the Trump administration, U.S. officials pointed to Cuba’s refusal to extradite ten suspects wanted in Colombia for a police academy bombing that killed 22 people and injured dozens more. Additionally, Cuba was accused of harboring numerous American fugitives, including Joanne Chesimard, also known as Assata Shakur, who was convicted of killing New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster in 1973.

In the summer of 2017, Trump imposed travel and financial restrictions on Cuba, criticizing Obama’s 2016 deal with the regime as "one-sided." These measures were part of a broader effort to reverse the Obama administration’s policies and exert pressure on the Cuban government.

The recent NFCC designation is likely to further complicate U.S.-Cuba relations and may lead to additional scrutiny of Cuba’s actions on counterterrorism and other security issues. The U.S. government will continue to monitor Cuba’s behavior and assess whether it meets the criteria for full cooperation in the future.

The situation highlights the complex and often contradictory nature of U.S. policy towards Cuba, with administrations oscillating between engagement and confrontation. The interplay of political considerations, security concerns, and human rights issues continues to shape the relationship between the two countries.

The decision to designate Cuba as an NFCC is expected to have a range of implications, including restrictions on defense-related exports and potentially increased scrutiny of financial transactions involving Cuba. The U.S. government may also consider additional measures to encourage Cuba to cooperate on counterterrorism and other security matters.

The future of U.S.-Cuba relations remains uncertain, with the NFCC designation representing a significant challenge to any efforts at improving ties. The Cuban government has yet to issue a formal response to the designation, but it is likely to view the move as a setback and an example of U.S. hostility.