Marco Rubio Supports Cuba Terrorism Label

During his Senate confirmation hearing to become Secretary of State, Senator Marco Rubio expressed strong opposition to President Biden's recent decision to remove Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism, arguing that Cuba continues to support terrorism and poses a threat to U.S. national security. Rubio emphasized that the incoming Trump administration is not obligated to uphold Biden's agreements, which were contingent upon the release of political prisoners in Cuba. He stated that Cuba meets all qualifications for the designation, citing its ties to terrorist groups like FARC, Hamas, and Hezbollah, as well as hosting foreign espionage stations. Moreover, Rubio criticized the Biden administration's lifting of sanctions on Cuba's military conglomerate GAESA, asserting that it enables the regime's grip on power amid a collapsing economy. He called for Cubans to have the same political and economic rights as their counterparts in the region, highlighting the dire situation on the island. This exchange signals a potential shift back to a more hardline U.S. policy towards Cuba under the upcoming Trump administration.