Donald Trump: 'I will reverse the agreement with Cuba'

(Baonghean.vn) - Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said on September 16 (US time) that he would reverse the historic agreement that President Barack Obama reached with Cuba unless Cuba met his demands to restore political freedoms and release political prisoners.

Billionaire Donald Trump says he will reverse the agreement with Cuba that President Barack Obama worked so hard to reach. Photo: Flickr.

Donald Trump's latest statement shows a clear shift from his previous stance, in which he supported the US reopening diplomatic relations with Cuba after more than 50 years.

Billionaire Trump said that President Obama's deal was "one-sided" and "only benefited the Castro regime."

"However, all the concessions that Obama made to the Castro regime were made under executive orders, meaning the next president can reverse them. And that's what I would do, unless Cuba meets our demands," Trump said on September 16.

"The demands will include issues of religious and political freedom for the Cuban people and the release of political prisoners," Trump said.

Cuba released 53 political prisoners in January 2015 as part of an effort to reach an agreement to restore diplomatic relations with the United States. The two countries officially restored full diplomatic relations in July 2015, more than 50 years after they severed ties.

The U.S. embargo against Cuba remains in effect; however, President Obama has eased a number of regulations allowing many American companies to sell products in Cuba. President Obama has also demonstrated that restoring relations with Cuba would help the country build a more liberal society by opening up to the world.

Regarding billionaire Trump, in September 2015 when asked about the agreement between the US and Cuba, he said: "I think it's a good deal."

He also added: “It’s a good deal, but we need a better and stronger deal,” he told The Daily Caller.

Trump also said in March that he would consider opening a hotel in Cuba.

"It may not develop immediately, but I think Cuba has certain potential. And I think this is a good way to help Cuba begin to find benefits for itself," Trump told CNN.

Khang Duy

(According to CNN)