The US will send a delegation to Cuba to restart talks on security

The United States government plans to send an official delegation to Havana this January to revive talks with Cuba, which were interrupted during the Donald Trump administration.

Washington plans to address its concerns about combating terrorism, a State Department spokesman said. Reuters.

Trump placed Cuba on the blacklist of state sponsors of terrorism shortly before his term ended, and the Biden Administration has been reviewing the provision since he took office.

The bilateral meeting will be the first of its kind since the law enforcement dialogue, which began in 2015 under former President Barack Obama and halted in 2018 under Trump.

Biden has begun to reverse some of Trump’s tough policies but has upheld others, insisting that the Cuban government must improve its human rights record.

“This type of dialogue enhances the national security of the United States through better international law enforcement coordination, which allows the United States to better protect American citizens and bring transnational criminals to justice,” said the State Department spokesman in a statement.

However, the official added that “this dialogue does not affect the continued focus of the administration on critical human rights issues in Cuba.”

In Washington, a source familiar with the matter said the talks were expected to take place next week. The Cuban government did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Among the issues expected to be addressed are efforts against cybercrime, terrorist threats and drug trafficking, according to the source familiar with the matter.

[Con información de Reuters]

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