Cuba Removed from List of Countries Not Fully Cooperating Against Terrorism List | May 21, 2024

May 21

Dear Friend,

This week, in Cuba news, the U.S. Department of State announced that Cuba has been removed from the list of Not Fully Cooperating Countries (NFCCs), however, the island still maintains its State Sponsor of Terrorism (SSOT) designation. Meanwhile, Cuban Americans took to Capitol Hill to voice concerns over U.S. policies affecting the island nation and urged the Biden-Harris administration to implement policy changes to address economic hardships. In other news, Cuba’s sugar industry continues to decline, facing record-low harvests exacerbated by economic challenges. Flights from Bejing to Havana resumed last week, marking a resumption of Air China flights to Cuba following a three-year-long hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Last week, Cuba’s President Miguel Díaz-Canel visited Moscow to secure support from Russia amidst Cuba’s economic crisis.

This week, we continue our U.S.-Cuba Interview Series with the second part of our interview with Mayra Espina, Doctor of Sociological Sciences, independent consultant, and associate researcher of the Academic Program of the Christian Center for Reflection and Dialogue (CCRD-C), and Elaine Acosta, Sociologist, Associate Researcher at the Cuban Research Institute, Florida International University, and Executive Director of Cuido60-Observatory on Aging, Care, and Rights - www.cuido60.com on the impact of demographic changes on Cuba’s care crisis.

See you next week!

*The views and opinions expressed by interviewees are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of CEDA.

4. Recent trends in Cuban migration show a high rate of young Cubans, and a growing participation of women. How are these trends tied to the current crisis of care facing the island? What are the potential consequences for gender equity and societal development?

Elaine: The feminization of Cuban migration (133 migrant women per 100 men since 2019) and the high participation of women of reproductive age in the new migratory flows are intimately connected with the worsening of the care crisis that Cuban society was already experiencing, both at the family and institutional levels. These crises cannot be seen in isolation. On the contrary, it is one of the components of a general crisis, not only of care but also of social reproduction in its broadest sense. One of the most obvious consequences is that with increased migration, family welfare and care management take on transnational dimensions. And with this, gender inequalities continue to propagate.

On the one hand, mostly Cuban migrant women manage the sending of food, medicines, and payments for family care services in Cuba, among other tasks associated with family responsibilities In the case of women who remain on the island, their caregiving duties for dependents of those who migrate (children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, etc.) increase, but with less support from state and family networks. Cuban households continue to reduce their size and the number of those where older people live alone increase. This last phenomenon also requires specialized social interventions, for which the social protection system in Cuba lacks an adequate strategy.

With the migration of women, many children and adolescents are left in the care of other relatives, mostly also women, with all the challenges that this implies. Many older people experience feelings of abandonment and loneliness in the face of the massive emigration of their close relatives. At the same time, caregiving is becoming a new labor niche in the emerging private sector in Cuba, following the approval of licenses to perform these types of self-employed work, initially, and more recently, the creation of Small and Medium Enterprises dedicated to offering care services to older people at home and in hospitals. The growing commodification of care on the island, while expanding the supply and establishing an option for some families, only does so for those with higher incomes, as the prices for these services are inaccessible for the majority.

On the other hand, the emigration of young people of working age strongly impacts the country's development in the medium and short term. Firstly, it influences the decrease in the economically active population (EAP) and Cuban society's decapitalization (material and human). The current deficit of human resources due to migration is a phenomenon that impacts all labor spheres and is felt in social and health services, with education and health being the most notable. Meanwhile, it causes imbalances in the pension system, making it unsustainable in the long term due to the lower number of contributions to the system. The reduction of the EAP, parallel to the growth of the cohort of 60 and over, diminishes the ratio of the number of active workers (employed EAP) to passive (retirees and pensioners), which has decreased from 3.6 in 1989 to 2.7 in 2018 and, according to projections, will continue to decrease to 1.3 in 2040.

[…]

5. How does emigration impact the labor force and the creation of a middle class in Cuba, given the significant outflow of people in prime working ages, and what challenges does the country face in utilizing its available workforce effectively within its current economic model?

Mayra: Studies show that around 80% of people who emigrated between 2020 and 2023 are between the ages of 15 and 59, which implies a significant loss of working-age people.

There is not much information about the occupational and economic qualifications, of emigrants, but given the age range and the relatively high costs of the current migration routes, which have led people to sell houses, cars, and various properties, it is expected that there is a high proportion of people with middle and higher qualifications, and belonging to middle-class groups. This represents a drain of qualified labor resources and shows trends of instability and turnover in middle-class sectors.

However, some experts point out that even with this loss, labor resources in the country cannot be considered scarce because there is a reserve of close to three million people capable of working outside the economically active population. The most serious problem, which also acts as a centrifugal force and migration push, is that the economic model fails to absorb that potential or offer quality options to attract it.

The challenge lies in a change in the economic model, in a policy of fostering and incentivizing work and production.

THIS WEEKS TOP STORY

Cuba Removed from List of Countries Not Fully Cooperating Against Terrorism List

Last Wednesday, U.S. Department of State officials announced that Cuba was removed from the list of countries not fully cooperating against terrorism list (NFCC) (Reuters). During a State Department press briefing on Thursday, Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel confirmed Cuba’s removal from the list, stating that “the circumstances for Cuba’s certifications as a not fully cooperating country have changed from 2022 to 2023.” The island nation was redesignated to the list in 2019 despite having been removed during the Obama-Biden administration in 2015. A State Department official cited several reasons for removing Cuba from the NFCC list, including the resumption of law enforcement cooperation in 2023, encompassing counterterrorism efforts. The negotiations for resumed law enforcement cooperation began in January of 2023 when a U.S. delegation traveled to Cuba “to discuss topics of bilateral interest on international law enforcement matters [and] increased international law enforcement cooperation.” The decision was also influenced by Cuba's improved cooperation with Colombia on extradition requests for National Liberation Army (ELN) members after Colombia’s attorney general announced the suspension of the arrest warrants in 2022 (CNN). Colombia’s Foreign Minister, Luis Gilberto Murillo, welcomed the Administration’s decision to remove Cuba from the NFCC list, arguing that Cuba has made efforts to support peace in their country. However, Principal Deputy Spokesperson Patel emphasized that despite this cooperation, Cuba is still seen as supporting terrorist activities, which he noted justifies its continued designation as a SSOT by the Biden-Harris administration. He indicated that any changes to this designation would require adherence to the legal criteria established by Congress. For more information on Cuba’s inclusion on the SSOT list, read CEDA’s SSOT FAQ.

Inclusion on the NFCC list bans selling or licensing defense articles and services for export. It also informs the U.S. public and international community that these countries are not fully cooperating with U.S. counterterrorism efforts. Despite Cuba no longer being an NFCC, Principal Deputy Spokesperson Patel reaffirmed that defense article sales will still be restricted given the country's continued inclusion on the SSOT list.

Cuba’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement on Thursday, urging the United States “to take Cuba, once and for all, out of the list of states allegedly sponsoring terrorism.” Members of U.S. Congress have taken to social media platforms to express both criticism and support regarding the decision. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) acknowledged on X that reconsidering Cuba as an NFCC is an important first step. However, she urged the Biden-Harris administration to “remove Trump’s listing of Cuba as a SSOT to further our security, humanitarian and hemispheric goals.” Senator Marco Rubio (FL-05) condemned the removal of Cuba as a NFCC on X, and Representatives Michael McCaul (TX-10) and Mark Green (TN-07) criticized the decision to deem Cuba compliant with U.S. counterterrorism efforts. On Monday, U.S. Representatives Jim McGovern (MA-02), Barbara Lee (CA-12), Gregory W. Meeks (NY-05), and Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released a statement applauding the Administration’s decision to remove Cuba’s NFCC classification. They called the previous designation counterproductive and advocated for engagement and dialogue to address issues with the Government of Cuba.

Read CEDA’s press release here!

us-cuba Relations

U.S. Churches Urge Biden Admin to Remove Cuba’s SSOT Designation: Twenty U.S.-based church organizations have written a letter to President Joe Biden, urging for significant changes in U.S.-Cuba relations (Baptist News). The letter, dated May 9, calls for Cuba’s removal from the SSOT list, a designation that they argue exacerbates the island nation’s severe economic crisis. The letter highlights the dire humanitarian conditions in Cuba, including widespread food, medicine, and energy shortages. The churches criticize Cuba’s inclusion on the list as a mistake that hinders humanitarian aid efforts and financial support to Cuba. The letter also calls for the lifting of the U.S. economic embargo and normalization of relations with Cuba.
A Group of Cuban Americans Rally on Capitol Hill for Economic Relief in Cuba: On May 6, the Alliance for Cuba Engagement and Respect (ACERE) organized a group of its members and other Cuban Americans to visit Capitol Hill and the State Department, urging Democrats and the Biden-Harris administration to address the economic suffering in Cuba or risk losing Cuban American support in the upcoming Presidential Election (The Nation). The visits included a letter to President Biden that was signed by over 100 organizations and 650 individuals, criticizing the Administration’s Cuba policy. Advocates argue that President Biden’s slow progress on Cuba alienates his supporters, with some Democrats expressing frustration and calling for immediate policy changes.

in cuba

Cuba’s Sugar Industry Faces Severe Decline Amid Economic Challenges: Sugar output has dramatically decreased in Cuba, an industry that was once central to the island’s economy and crucial for rum production. Recent harvests have reached record lows (BBC News). The Yumuri sugar cooperative in Cuba, historically significant for the nation’s economy, is now facing severe decline. Some attribute the decreased production to factors including inflation, shortages, and the longstanding U.S. embargo, along with internal issues such as mismanagement and underinvestment. Cuba’s government has shifted its investment to tourism over sugar, further diminishing the industry’s stability.

In cuba Recommended Readings and Viewings

Religious Diversity Flourishes in Cuba: The 1959 revolution in Cuba established an atheist, Communist government that sought to replace the Catholic Church, but 65 years later, various religious practices are evident across the island (AP News). Religious diversity now thrives, with Catholics, Muslims, Buddhists, Jews, and Santeria devotees all openly practicing their faiths. This trend reflects broader social changes and a gradual easing of government restrictions on religious practice, leading to a more vibrant and diverse religious landscape in the country. Despite this resurgence, the U.S. Department of State argues that Cuba’s government still falls short on religious tolerance and designated Cuba as a Country of Particular Concern in 2022 “for having engaged in or tolerated severe violations of religious freedom” (AP News). However, others argue that significant progress has been made, referring to it as a religious revival on the island.

Cuban Migration

Cuba’s foreign relations

Air China Flights to Cuba Resume as Cuba Targets New Tourism Markets: Cuba is aiming to attract tourists from countries that typically do not visit the island, including China, to bolster its struggling tourism sector (LA Times). Air China has resumed its regular flights to Cuba this month after halting them in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Last Friday, 116 tourists aboard the Air China flight were greeted with a water salute at the José Martí International Airport in Havana, marking the first resumed flight between Beijing and Havana (Yahoo News). In 2023, Cuba saw the arrival of only 2.4 million tourists, significantly below the pre-pandemic levels of over 3.6 million international tourists in 2019. Earlier this month, at the closing ceremony of the Cuban International Tourism Fair, Cuba’s Tourism Minister, Juan Carlos García, announced that starting this month, Chinese citizens will be exempt from visa requirements. Cuba’s authorities are also targeting Russian tourists, with increasing arrivals and acceptance of Russian MIR cards. Despite these efforts to draw in more tourists, the sector has not met expectations, and the government recently adjusted its tourist forecast from 3.5 million to three million for this year.
Cuba’s President Seeks Support from Russia Amid Economic Challenges: During a recent Victory Day military parade on May 9 at the Kremlin in Moscow, Cuba’s President Miguel Díaz-Canel stood beside Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko (Miami Herald). Two days earlier, Vladimir Putin was sworn in for his fifth term as Russia’s President in a grand ceremony. President Díaz Canel’s visit to Moscow aimed to secure support from Russia amidst the island's ongoing economic crisis. In his meeting with President Putin, President Díaz-Canel emphasized Cuba’s challenging economic situation and reiterated support for Russia in the war in Ukraine. Despite these overtures, Russia’s financial assistance has been limited, with only a modest shipment arriving after prolonged negotiations.

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*The views and opinions expressed by authors are their own and articles do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of CEDA.

Maria Espinosa