France welcomes the U.S. decision to remove Cuba from the State Sponsors of Terrorism (SST) list and to suspend enforcement of certain unilateral sanctions imposed on the country. France, along with the EU, has continually expressed its opposition to Cuba's re-inclusion on the SST list in 2021 and has consistently advocated for continued dialogue with Cuba.
France also commends the Cuban authorities' announcement that 553 prisoners will soon be released, a step that aligns with the requests that France and its EU partners have been making since 2021. We also want to thank Pope Francis for his efforts in facilitating this development.
France reaffirms its commitment to fostering more constructive cooperation with Cuba, particularly with regard to the economic challenges facing that country, while urging the Cuban authorities to make further progress on much-needed reforms.