The Biden administration said on Tuesday it would remove Cuba from its terrorism blacklist, while Cuba said separately it would release upward of 500 prisoners from its jails, dual announcements poised to reshape U.

In a dramatic announcement just days before a leadership transition, President Joe Biden revealed plans to remove Cuba from the U.S. terrorism blacklist and ease sanctions on the island. These measures aim to reverse strict policies enacted years earlier and pave the way for improved relations between the two nations.

The Biden administration announced on Tuesday that it will remove Cuba from the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism (SST) in exchange for the release of political prisoners jailed for protesting