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

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.

The Biden administration announced on Tuesday it will remove Cuba from the state sponsor of terrorism list – a move taken in the twilight of the administration that is likely to reversed by the incoming team.

In a last-minute decision driven by the White House, the State Department on Tuesday removed Cuba from the list of countries that sponsor terrorism, despite earlier assurances that it would not do so,