Del Rincón: The Cuban regime's factory of lies 5:41
(CNN) -
US President Joe Biden said Thursday that Cuba is a "failed state" and called communism a "failed system" as protests against the Caribbean nation's repressive regime rage.
During a press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Biden said the United States is looking for ways to restore Internet access in Cuba, but indicated that the country is not considering restoring remittances from the United States to Cuba - the practice of transfer money to family members in Cuba - out of concerns that the regime will confiscate the funds.
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"Cuba is unfortunately a failed state that represses its citizens. There are a number of things we would consider doing to help the Cuban people, but it would require a different circumstance or a guarantee that the government would not take advantage of them," he said Biden.
"For example, the ability to send remittances to Cuba. We would not do that now because the regime is very likely to confiscate those remittances or large portions."
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."
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What the United States Really Needs to Do with Cuba and Haiti
Thousands of Cubans took to the streets across the island nation last weekend to protest chronic shortages of basic goods, restrictions on civil liberties and the government's handling of a worsening coronavirus outbreak, causing these riots are the most important in decades.
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Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel blamed the economic conditions on US sanctions during nationally televised remarks last weekend.
Since Biden came to power, Cuba's policies have been under review.
Under the Barack Obama administration, Cuba oversaw the reopening of embassies and the relaxation of many long-standing restrictions.
But the Donald Trump administration enacted some of the toughest economic measures against Cuba in decades, reinstated travel restrictions and, before leaving office, named Cuba a state sponsor of terrorism.
The demonstrations in Cuba, along with the recent assassination of the president in Haiti, have forced the Joe Biden government to focus on foreign policy with the Caribbean nations.
The president confirmed that he plans to send US Marines to Haiti to secure the US embassy, but there are no plans for additional troops to go to Haiti.
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Biden said he was ready to ship COVID-19 vaccines to Cuba, but the nation has not joined the international vaccine coalition, COVAX, with whom the United States works closely.
"I would be prepared to give significant amounts of vaccine if in fact they assured me that an international organization would administer those vaccines and do it in a way that the average citizen would have access to those vaccines," he continued.
The president offered information on the restoration of Internet access in Cuba and told reporters: "We are considering whether we have the technological capacity to restore that access."
Earlier this week, social media platforms were restricted in Cuba, according to Internet monitor NetBlocks.
The NetBlocks website said its metrics showed that WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and some Telegram servers were disrupted.
Angela Merkel Cuba Joe Biden