Cuba is no longer considered a state sponsor of terror. Secretary of State John Kerry signed off on rescinding the designation 45 days after the Obama administration told Congress it would do so.

Arizona Senator Jeff Flake said taking Cuba off the terror blacklist means a couple of things.

"One, it’ll mean that we can move ahead and establish diplomatic relations with Cuba far easier," he said. "And two, it makes that list actually mean something because as long as Cuba was on it, it was seen more as a political designation rather than a national security measure."

Flake said the next step is to work with the Cuban government to open embassies in Havana and Washington D.C. The designation was first levied because of the country’s support of leftist guerrillas.

Iran, Sudan and Syria remain on the list.