Cruz On Obama’s Cuba Policy: ‘One More Very, Very Bad Deal’

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) joined with other Republicans on Wednesday who condemned President Barack Obama’s decision to open diplomatic relations with Cuba.

“Make no mistake, although we are glad (former prisoner Alan Gross) is now free, the agreement the Obama Administration has entered into with the Castro regime has done nothing to resolve the underlying problem,” Cruz, who is Cuban-American, said in a statement. “Indeed, it has made it worse.”

“Fidel and Raul Castro have just received both international legitimacy and a badly-needed economic lifeline from President Obama,” he continued. “But they remain in control of a totalitarian police state modeled on their old state sponsor, the Soviet Union.”

Cruz placed in his criticism in the same context as his opposition to Obama’s policies on Russia and Iran.

“If history be our guide, the Castros will exploit that power to undermine America and oppress the Cuban people,” he said. “First Russia, then Iran, now Cuba – this is one more very, very bad deal brokered by the Obama Administration.”

During a Fox News appearance Wednesday afternoon, host Neil Cavuto asked Cruz if it bothered him “that you’re on the opposite side of the pope on this one?”

“I certainly respect the pope and his sphere of influence,” Cruz said. “But I’ll say this: When it comes to foreign policy and the national security interests of the United States, the president should be focused on exactly that — on protecting our national security interests. And this doesn’t do that.”