Marco Rubio is not backing down on his views on Cuba.
The Florida senator expressed concern that the United States’ new policies toward Cuba will “not lead to freedom” for the Cuban people.
“It has to be a policy change that has a reasonable chance of achieving freedom,” Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, said on ABC’s “This Week.”
“Engagement does not guarantee or even lead to freedoms,” he added.
Rubio also continued the back-and-forth between himself and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, another potential 2016 presidential candidate who has a very different view on Cuba.
The two have been jabbing at each other this week over support for the Obama administration’s decision to open diplomatic talks with Cuba.
“Rand, if he wants to become the chief cheerleader of Obama’s foreign policy … he has a right to do that,” Rubio said, adding: “It won’t lead to freedom and liberty for the Cuban people.”
Rubio disagrees with the new policies, believing the embargo is not the problem in Cuba — rather its leader is the problem. Paul has expressed support for the administration’s changes, calling Rubio an isolationist.
When then asked whether he would support Paul’s bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016, Rubio hedged.
“I anticipate supporting whoever the Republican nominee is,” he said before changing the topic.
Rubio also said he believes former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush “will be a very credible and significant candidate” in the 2016 race should Bush officially decide to run.
When asked whether he will run and what Bush’s potential run means, Rubio said the decision “is not based on anyone else.”
“I have to make the decision that that’s what I want to do,” Rubio said about running.
“If I decide the presidency is where I want to pursue the agenda [for the U.S. outlined in his upcoming book], then that’s what I’ll do.”
Bush leads the potential 2016 Republican nomination field, with 15.2 points. Paul, with nine points, is fourth, and Rubio, with four points, is 10th, according to a RealClearPolitics average of polls.
