Secretary of State Mike Pompeo hinted at the possibility of redesignating Cuba as a state sponsor of terror and called Havana “evil” in an interview with Bloomberg published on Tuesday.
Last week, several reports said the Trump administration is considering putting Cuba on the terror list as a last-minute move that could hobble Joe Biden’s plans to move closer towards normalization with Cuba. President Obama removed Cuba from the list in 2015.
“We don’t get out in front of decisions that will be made on designations, but the world knows Cuba’s evil hand in so many places,” Pompeo said when asked if the designation was likely.
He went on to cite Cuba’s support for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. The Trump administration often blames Cuba for Washington’s failed regime change effort in Venezuela.
“We’ve been working to create democracy for the people of Venezuela for our entire four years, and it is Cuban efforts, Cuban security operations, Cubans controlling the security apparatus inside of Venezuela that has inflicted massive pain on the Venezuelan people,” Pompeo said.
The reality of the Trump administration’s Venezuela policy is that Juan Guaido, who the US recognized as president of Venezuela, never had wide support in the country. The military remained loyal to Maduro, and coup attempts failed miserably. It’s not clear if Cuba actually has much of a military presence in Venezuela.
“It is completely appropriate for us to consider whether Cuba is in fact sponsoring terrorism,” Pompeo said. “And if so, just like any other nation that is providing material support to terrorists, they too should be designated such and treated in a way that’s consistent with that behavior that they’re undertaking.”
Throughout his term, President Trump has reversed Obama’s efforts to normalize with Cuba by reimposing restrictions on travel, investments, and exports of Cuban liquor and cigars.
Does this person really believe that President Trump will be still an officer of the US after January 20, 12 pm ET?
I`m not sure whether Pompous was born an idiot or he has just practised for a long time.
The goal is to “hobble Joe Biden’s plans to move closer towards normalization”. Trump doesn’t have to be in office. Just like Iranian sanctions hobbling any attempt to rejoin the JCPOA.
That can be achieved with an Executive order
A classic case of the school yard BULLY
This great news maybe it will stop the evil Cubans from sending Medical teams and Teachers to countries truly in need./s
Pompeo probably had a slow day at his office and was looking for something to do.
“We’ve been working to create democracy for the people of Venezuela for our entire four years, and it is Cuban efforts, Cuban security operations, Cubans controlling the security apparatus inside of Venezuela that has inflicted massive pain on the Venezuelan people,” Pompeo said.
As compared to the help we give the Venezuelans with our pain free sanctions. Someday this putrid piece of dog dung will run for president using his time as SOS as a selling point. Hopefully Karma happens along before then that results in a deservingly painful ending.
Has there been a less pleasant oaf in this position as US Chief Exceptionalist Hypocrite? Im strugging to think of one and there have been plenty of candidates.