Marco Rubio Calls on Obama to End 'Unilateral Concessions' to 'Odious' Castro Regime

With the Obama administration and the Castro regime agreeing to have embassies in each nation’s capital as normalization efforts continue, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, criticized the decision. 

“Throughout this entire negotiation, as the Castro regime has stepped up its repression of the Cuban people, the Obama administration has continued to look the other way and offer concession after concession,” Rubio said on Wednesday. “The administration's reported plan to restore diplomatic relations is one such prized concession to the Castro regime. It remains unclear what, if anything, has been achieved since the [president's] December 17th announcement in terms of securing the return of U.S. fugitives being harbored in Cuba, settling outstanding legal claims to U.S. citizens for properties confiscated by the regime, and in obtaining the unequivocal right of our diplomats to travel freely throughout Cuba and meet with any dissidents, and most importantly, securing greater political freedoms for the Cuban people. I intend to oppose the confirmation of an ambassador to Cuba until these issues are addressed. It is time for our unilateral concessions to this odious regime to end.”