Under Biden, US resumes cooperation with Cuba to fight organized crime

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Authorities from the United States and Cuba have established cooperation in the area of ​​international security to increase efforts to combat human and drug trafficking. The meeting between the delegations marks the first dialogue of its kind since 2018, when Washington severed its relationship with the island under former Republican President Donald Trump (2017-2020).

High-ranking officials from the US Department of State, Homeland Security and Justice participated in the Havana meetings. The Cuban delegation had representatives from the Ministries of the Interior, Foreign Affairs, the Attorney General’s Office and Customs.

Dialogue between nations to combat terrorism, drug trafficking, human trafficking and cybercrime began in 2015 during the term of then President Barack Obama (2009-2016), a government in which the current Chief Executive, Joe Biden, was vice-president. president. The talks followed the historic reestablishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

In 2017, the two countries signed a cooperation agreement in the aforementioned areas. But the Trump administration replaced Cuba and broke the rapprochement by placing Cuba on the suggested list of countries that sponsor terrorism.

Under Biden, the two countries have resumed talks and the balance is celebrated. In a note, the US State Department said that the defined cooperation will enhance US national security with better “international law enforcement coordination”. The initiative also makes it possible to bring transnational criminals to justice.

The State Department points out, however, that the understanding considered critical of the United States in relation to human rights in Cuba does not change.

Upon arriving at the White House in January 2021, Biden promised to review US policy on Cuba. The democrat hardened his criticism of the island after demonstrations against the regime in July of that year. The protests were the most forceful in six decades of one-party rule.

Although with reservations, the Cuban Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodríguez, said that the two countries benefit from bilateral cooperation to face scourges such as terrorism, illicit trafficking in migrants and migratory fraud. “We are committed to this despite the economic blockade and incessant US hostility,” he wrote on social media.

Last year, in a context of record exodus of Cubans mainly to the United States, Washington and Havana resumed negotiations on the migration issue. In recent days, the American embassy has again authorized the issuance of visas for Cubans wishing to settle in the US.

Also according to the State Department, Washington is also willing to “continue constructive talks” with the Cuban regime to promote US interests.

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