U.S. drops Cuba from list of state sponsors of terrorism

The U.S. formally removed Cuba from the list of states that sponsor terrorism Friday, according to a State Department news release.

The White House first announced this move last month. In a December 2014 step toward normalizing diplomatic relations with Cuba after 50 years, President Barack Obama ordered the department to review the nation's inclusion on the list.

"While the United States has significant concerns and disagreements with a wide range of Cuba’s policies and actions, these fall outside the criteria relevant to the rescission of a State Sponsor of Terrorism designation," department spokesman Jeff Rathke said in the release.

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