Biden extends the state of emergency with Cuba, in effect since 1996

Washington, February 24 (EFE). – The President of the United States, Joe Biden, on Wednesday extended for another year the declaration of the state of emergency with Cuba, which has been in effect since 1996 after the shooting down of two Cuban civilian aircraft. Cuban exiles organization “Brothers to the Rescue”.

In a declaration sent to Congress, Biden emphasized that “there remains a need to continue this state of national emergency,” which prevents “the unauthorized entry of any ship registered in the United States into Cuban territorial waters.”

25 years ago, on February 24, 1996, some Cuban MiG fighters attacked with missiles three small planes of the “Salvation Brothers” group in exile, intended to monitor the rafters escaping from the island.

In this act, Cuban MiGs shot down two Cessnas Skymasters of the Cuban Exile Organization and killed four of its crew, prompting President Bill Clinton’s government to declare a state of emergency.

According to Cuba, the planes violated their airspace to spread propaganda materials against the regime, despite the US government asserting that they were in international airspace, north of the island.

On March 1, 1996, Clinton issued the emergency declaration, which was eased, although maintained, by President Barack Obama’s CEO, despite the re-establishment of relations with Havana in 2014.

“The possibility of the widespread unauthorized entry of vessels registered in the United States into Cuban territorial waters would disrupt the international relations of the United States with Cuba by permitting or providing the means to facilitate the mass immigration of Cuban citizens and threaten our national security,” Biden said in his statement. EFE

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