Namibia has condemned the decision by newly-inaugurated US President Donald Trump to reinstate Cuba on the United States’ list of states that allegedly sponsor international terrorism.
The move on Trump’s first day in office on Monday comes just a week after former President Joe Biden had removed Cuba from the list, signalling a shift in US foreign policy.
In a statement released late Tuesday, Namibia’s Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation criticised Trump’s decision as contrary to the spirit of international cooperation.
“This decision by President Trump is not only disappointing, but also runs counter to the belated decision made by former US President Joe Biden on 14 January 2025 when he rightly signed an executive order to remove Cuba from the American list of state sponsors of terrorism,” ministry executive director Penda Naanda said.
Naanda further expressed that the Namibian government views Trump’s decision as an unwarranted tactic to delay the normalisation of diplomatic relations between the US and Cuba.
“The decision by President Trump and his administration against Cuba does not truly symbolise an act to fight against international terrorism, but rather an unwarranted tactic of delaying normalising diplomatic relations between the two neighbouring nations,” he noted.
The Namibian government called for dialogue between the US and Cuba, emphasising the potential for a lasting diplomatic solution to their ongoing political differences.
The statement urged the US to maintain a positive and friendly foreign policy towards Cuba, allowing both countries to coexist as good neighbours.
“International relations must be guided by cooperation and not by threats and unilateral coercive measures,” the statement concluded.
The US sanctions against Cuba have a long history, dating back to the early 1960s when the US imposed a trade embargo on the island nation following the Cuban Revolution.
Over the years, the sanctions have been tightened and expanded, significantly impacting Cuba’s economy.
In recent years, there have been efforts to improve US-Cuba relations, with former President Barack Obama taking steps to ease restrictions and restore diplomatic ties.
However, the reinstatement of sanctions by President Trump marks a reversal of these efforts, raising concerns about the future of US-Cuba relations.
JN/APA