Jeb Bush, a potential candidate for the 2016 presidential elections, on Wednesday said the restoration of diplomatic ties between the U.S. and Cuba was a mistake because it would only excessively benefit the latter.

When Bush spoke to the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, he not only discussed the diplomatic restoration but also talked about Alan Gross' freedin from his Cuban captors. He said talking about restoring ties for two years in secrecy has amounted to a bad negotiation and that the notion that Cubans will have freedom is false since it is a Communist country.

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"I think it was the wrong thing to do. Had they waited...they would have seen economic strains that would have probably brought Cuba to the table," said Bush. 

He also opposed the foreign policies of the Obama administration, saying it is inconsistent and indecisive as other countries might lose trust and confidence in the U.S. in the long run. Obama had promised that the U.S. will have greater engagement in global decisions but it has become less influential to the international community, Bush added.

Bush might have different views with his brother George W. Bush and his father George H.W. Bush, but he said that he is his own man. Still, he considers himself lucky for having a brother and a father who have shaped the foreign policy of the U.S. from the White House.

The Former Florida governor has been making statements in the past regarding very controversial issues and some of them even contradict what the Republicans generally think and feel, such as his stand in gay marriage and illegal immigration issues.

Bush is said to be the front-runner for the Republicans as there are many pledging support for his campaign although he has yet to formally announce his candidacy in the 2016 presidential race.

TagsJeb Bush, Cuba, U.S., diplomatic ties, 2016 presidential race, U.S. elections 2016