On January 17, in response to a query from journalists about Vietnam's reaction to the move, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pham Thu Hang stated: "Vietnam welcomes the U.S. government's decision on January 14 to remove Cuba from the State Department's list of state sponsors of terrorism, along with measures to reduce sanctions against Cuba."

Hang emphasized Vietnam's consistent stance of strongly supporting efforts to normalize Cuba-U.S. relations. This includes urging the U.S. to fully lift its embargo against Cuba in accordance with related United Nations General Assembly resolutions.

She added that these efforts align with the legitimate interests of the Cuban people and contribute to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the Americas and globally.

At multiple sessions of the U.N. General Assembly, Vietnam and other nations have repeatedly called on the U.S. to end its sanctions on Cuba and remove the country from its terrorism list.

According to U.S. media reports, the Biden administration announced its decision to remove Cuba from the list after determining, through a comprehensive review, that there was no evidence of Cuba supporting international terrorism.

Cuba welcomed the decision, with Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez describing it as a "step in the right direction." However, Rodríguez also expressed concern that the embargo on Cuba remains in place.

The international community has broadly supported the U.S. decision to delist Cuba. On December 17, 2024, the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated its willingness to engage in dialogue with President-elect Donald Trump following his inauguration next week, with the aim of improving bilateral relations.

Tran Thuong