On April 14 President Obama informed Congress of his intent to take Cuba off the US terror list, giving lawmakers time to share their opinions or attempt to obstruct the move. That 45-day congressional pre-notification period has now expired and the State Department has officially rescinded, "Cuba's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism."

The move comes after months of improved relations between the two countries. In December of last year, Obama announced that US relations with Cuba would take a new direction and, in January, talks to normalize their relationship began. Despite these facts, Cuba has publicly declared that the US would have to end their blockade and close their controversial military base in Guantanamo Bay.

Cuba was originally put on the list in 1982, after the State Department claimed that Cuba was harboring criminals. However, it was clear at the time that the US was infuriated by the fact Fidel Castro's government was arming and training rebels in Latin America and Africa, many of whom were fighting against US-backed right-wing dictatorships.