Niël Terblanché
The Government of Namibia has expressed strong disapproval of President Donald Trump’s recent decision to reinstate Cuba on the United States list of state sponsors of terrorism.
According to the executive director of the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation, Ambassador Penda Naanda, this move reverses the action taken by former President Joe Biden on 14 January 2025, when he signed an executive order to remove Cuba from the list.
In an official statement, Naanda described President Trump’s decision as “not only disappointing but also running counter to the belated decision made by former US President Joe Biden.”
Naanda asserted that the action does not genuinely represent an effort to combat international terrorism but is perceived as “an unwarranted tactic of delaying normalising diplomatic relations between the two neighbouring nations.”
“Namibia has long advocated for dialogue between the United States and Cuba, stressing that such engagement holds the potential to resolve longstanding political differences,” he said.
The government urged the United States to maintain a positive and friendly foreign policy towards Cuba so that both countries could live together as good neighbours.
Naanda stressed that international relations should be guided by cooperation and not by threats and unilateral coercive measures.
President Trump’s decision to reinstate Cuba on the terrorism list was among several executive actions taken on his first day back in office.
Trump also signed executive orders rolling back protections for transgender individuals and terminating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs within the federal government.
One order restricts federal recognition to only two sexes, male and female, based on reproductive anatomy, blocking federally funded transition services and other transgender affirmations such as pronoun use in government facilities.
Another order halts federal DEI initiatives, which Trump described as a return to merit-based treatment.
He also signed a decree that immediately closed the southern border of the US to thousands of hopeful immigrants.
AP News reported that Trump declared a national energy emergency to expedite the development of fossil fuel infrastructure, aligning with his campaign promises to boost the oil and gas industries and roll back climate policies from the previous administration.
His administration plans to replenish strategic reserves and increase energy exports, while also ceasing federal leasing for wind farms and withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement.
These actions have sparked significant backlash from civil rights groups and environmental advocates, who argue that such measures undermine progress made in recent years. Critics contend that the reinstatement of Cuba on the terrorism list is a regressive step that hampers efforts toward diplomatic reconciliation.
According to Naanda, Namibia’s condemnation of Trump’s decision reflects broader concerns within the international community regarding the implications of these executive actions.
Naanda said that Namibia’s stance with regard to cooperative and constructive international relations is essential for developing diplomacy and mutual respect when addressing global challenges.
