WCC news: WCC welcomes U.S. rescission of Cuba’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism

The World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay has warmly welcomed President Biden’s decision of 14 January to remove Cuba from a list maintained by the U.S. Department of State that designates countries accused of supporting terrorism. A magazine seller on a street in Santiago de Cuba, on the eastern end of the Caribbean island of Cuba. Photo: Paul Jeffrey/Life on Earth 20 January 2025 “This decision will hopefully alleviate the hardships suffered by the people of Cuba, which have been greatly exacerbated by the US designation and embargo, by allowing the country greater access to international financial institutions and trade opportunities”, said Pillay. “We call upon the whole international community to take this opportunity to contribute to better lives and future prospects for the Cuban people”, added the WCC general secretary.   Cuba was designated as an State Sponsor of Terrorism  (SST) in 1982 by the Reagan administration for allegedly supporting communist insurgencies and terrorist groups in Latin America and Africa. The designation subjected Cuba to economic sanctions, including restrictions on foreign aid, defense exports, and financial transactions. The WCC has been advocating for an end of the economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba for many years, accompanying the churches as prophetic voices of peace, hope, cooperation, and mutual respect. In 2022, the WCC 11th Assembly called for the removal of Cuba from the list of countries that sponsor terrorism.  In December 2014, President Barack Obama announced efforts to normalize U.S.-Cuba relations, leading to diplomatic talks. The rescission of Cuba’s designation as a SST occurred in 2015. However, in January 2021, shortly before leaving office, President Donald Trump re-designated Cuba as an SST. WCC 11th Assembly statement: "The Things That Make For Peace: Moving the World to Reconciliation and Unity" See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland