Venezuela strongly rejects the U.S. decision to reinstate Cuba on its list of nations “not fully cooperating against terrorism,” calling it a political move to justify new sanctions.

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The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has vehemently condemned the United States’ recent move to reinstate Cuba on its list of countries “not fully cooperating with counterterrorism efforts” (NFCC). This decision paves the way for additional economic and diplomatic sanctions against Cuba, sparking fierce backlash from Caracas.

In an official statement, Venezuelan Foreign Ministry spokesperson Yvan Gil denounced the inclusion as a “political maneuver” lacking any legitimate security justification. The Venezuelan government argues that the move aims to undermine Cuban sovereignty and tighten the economic and diplomatic stranglehold on the Cuban Revolution.

The statement highlights the hypocrisy of a nation with a history of warfare and covert operations labeling Cuba—a country that has endured over six decades of a “brutal blockade”—as uncooperative in counterterrorism. Venezuela praised Cuba’s resilience, noting its unwavering commitment to global peace and solidarity, which remains a thorn in the side of those seeking to dominate free nations.

Furthermore, Venezuela reaffirmed its full solidarity with Cuba, warning that this decision exposes the “moral and political bankruptcy” of an international political class that resorts to “lies, criminalization, and collective punishment” when unable to subdue sovereign states.

The U.S. State Department justified Cuba’s re-listing by accusing Havana of harboring U.S. fugitives in 2024 and failing to fully collaborate on counterterrorism efforts. This reversal undoes the Biden administration’s 2023 decision to remove Cuba from the NFCC after restarting counterterrorism cooperation.

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