MOSCOW: Russia on Tuesday slammed US President Donald Trump for reinstating its ally Cuba on a list of state sponsors of terrorism, saying the measure was aimed at destabilising the island and prompting regime change.
Trump on Monday reversed his predecessor Joe Biden鈥檚 decision to remove Cuba from a blacklist of state sponsors of terrorism.
Foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement that the newly-inaugurated Trump鈥檚 order was undoubtedly 鈥渁imed at further tightening financial and economic restrictions in the hopes of destabilising the situation and changing power in Cuba.鈥�
The move is unjustified because Cuba is an active participant in 鈥渋nternational cooperation on counterterrorism,鈥� Zakharova said.
The US must realize such measures 鈥渉ave an extremely negative influence on the quality of life of the island鈥檚 population,鈥� she added, suggesting it was aiming to provoke 鈥渟ocial discontent.鈥�
Russia will continue to provide 鈥渘ecessary support to Cuba鈥� to back its demands for an 鈥渋mmediate and complete end鈥� to the 鈥渋llegal and inhumane鈥� US blockade of the island, Zakharova said.
Russia and Cuba have strengthened ties since Moscow launched its Ukraine offensive in 2022 with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visiting last year.