The Biden administration said it would remove Cuba from its terrorism blacklist, while Cuba said separately it would release upward of 500 prisoners from its jails.

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.

Hundreds of prisoners set to be released as part of agreement with outgoing Biden administration that removes Cuba from terrorism-sponsor list

Cuba on Wednesday began releasing prisoners jailed following anti-government protests in 2021, making good on a deal with the Catholic Church that prompted the Biden administration to say it would loosen sanctions on the communist-run nation.

Cuba started releasing some prisoners Wednesday as part of talks with the Vatican, a day after President Joe Biden's administration announced his intent to lift the U.S. designation of the island nation as a state sponsor of terrorism.

The decision is likely to be reversed by the incoming Trump administration. Sen. Marco Rubio, President-elect Donald Trump's pick for secretary of state whose family fled Cuba in the 1950s, supports strong sanctions on Havana's Communist regime.