Two of America's most influential Cuban-American lawmakers are calling for a re-evaluation of recent ties with the Communist island nation in the wake of Fidel Castro's death.
In separate broadcast interviews Sunday, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Marco Rubio, R-Fla., said President Barack Obama's restoration of diplomatic ties with Cuba will does not pave the way for increased liberties there.
"What the Obama administration has done has strengthened Raul Castro," Cruz said on ABC News' "This Week." "Raul is the dictator now."
"You know, I asked my dad at dinner last night what do you think happens now that Fidel is dead?" he continued. "And he shrugged and said 'Raul has been in power for years. The system has gotten stronger.' And what Obama has done is funneled billions of dollars to Raul Castro, which is being used to oppress dissidents."
"This tyrannical regime has gotten stronger because of a weak president, weak foreign policy," he added. "And it is very much my hope and belief that with a new president coming into office in January, President[-elect Donald] Trump, a new administration, that U.S. foreign policy . . . will no longer be a policy of weakness and appeasement, but instead using U.S. strength to force and press for change."
Rubio, who is also of Cuban descent, said he believes Trump will push Cuba to make more concessions on human rights issues.
"He has made very clear that he felt that the moves President Obama has made toward Cuba were wrong and that he would examine them and change the ones that needed to be changed," Rubio said on CNN's "State of the Union." "And I think that's very promising."
"I know they've had good people advising them on this issue, as well," Rubio said of Trump. "So I certainly have confidence that he's going to do the right thing when it comes to Cuba."
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