Biden says Cuba is a 'failed state' and calls communism 'a universally failed system'
President Joe Biden said on Thursday that Cuba is a "failed state" and called communism a "failed system" as protests play out against the Caribbean nation's repressive regime.
Posted — UpdatedDuring a news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Biden said that the US is looking into ways to possibly reinstate access to the internet in Cuba but indicated that the US is not considering reestablishing US to Cuba remittances over concerns that the regime would confiscate the funds.
"Cuba is unfortunately a failed state and repressing their citizens. There are a number of things that we would consider doing to help the people of Cuba, but it would require a different circumstance or a guarantee that they would not be taken advantage of by the government. For example, the ability to send remittances back to Cuba. We would not do that now because the fact is it's highly likely the regime would confiscate those remittances or big chunks of it," Biden said.
When asked about his views on communism, the President added: "Communism is a failed system -- a universally failed system. And I don't see socialism as a very useful substitute. But that's another story."
Thousands took to the streets across the island nation last weekend to protest chronic shortages of basic goods, curbs on civil liberties and the government's handling of a worsening coronavirus outbreak, marking the most significant unrest in decades.
Biden said he was ready to send Covid-19 vaccines to Cuba, but the nation has not joined the international vaccine coalition, COVAX, with whom the US is working closely.
"I'd be prepared to give significant amounts of vaccine if in fact I was assured an international organization would administer those vaccines and would do it in a way that average citizens would have access to those vaccines," he continued.
The President volunteered information about reinstating internet access in Cuba, telling reporters, "We're considering whether we have the technological ability to reinstate that access."
This is a breaking story and will be updated.
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