Cuba policy to be ‘reversed’

AT HIS confirmation hearing, former ExxonMobil chief executive Rex Tillerson said he would reverse, or comprehensively review, former President Barack Obama’s executive orders and concessions on Cuba.

“There will be a comprehensive review of current policies and (Obama’s) executive orders regarding Cuba to determine how best to pressure Cuba to respect human rights and promote democratic changes,” he said, adding he would even commit to “reverse” them if he was confirmed.

While Tillerson still needs to be confirmed by the full Senate, he was confirmed by a Senate committee on Monday. Beside the pretext of “human rights,” the likely secretary of state highlighted how he would pressure Cuba to serve US economic and political interests.

Tillerson promised he would work with the Treasury Department to ensure that no revenue from US firms went directly towards supporting the Cuban government, and would use trade to pressure Cuba to have Black Panther activist Joanne Chesimard, or Assata Shakur, extradited to the US.

Shakur was accused of killing a US police officer in a 1977 shootout.

Telesur