Donald Trump: 'I will reverse the deal 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 meets his demands to restore political freedoms as well as the issue of releasing political prisoners.

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

Candidate Donald Trump's latest statement shows a clear change from his previous stance that he supports 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 of the concessions that Obama made to the Castro regime were made by executive order, which means the next president can reverse them. And that’s what I will do, unless Cuba meets our demands,” Trump said on September 16.

“The demands will include religious and political freedom for the Cuban people and the release of political prisoners,” Mr. Trump said.

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

The US embargo on Cuba remains in effect, but President Obama has eased a number of regulations that allow many US companies to sell products in Cuba. President Obama has also demonstrated that reestablishing relations with Cuba will help the country create a freer society by opening up to the world.

As for billionaire Trump, in September 2015, when asked about the agreement between the US and Cuba, he said: "I think this is a good agreement."

“It's a good deal, but we need a better and stronger deal,” he added, telling The Daily Caller.

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

“It may not happen right away, but I think Cuba has some potential. And I think this is a good way to help Cuba start to see some benefits for itself,” Trump told CNN.

Khang Duy

(According to CNN)