Washington, January 10, (RHC), -– The economic blockade imposed by the government of the United States against Cuba has once again come under criticism, this time by the new Republican chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

“This is a policy... that has not yielded the result we had hoped it would yield, obviously. I think that’s pretty apparent,” Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee said Wednesday in a conference call with reporters.

This statement from the top US politician signals general agreement with President Barack Obama that the economic and diplomatic sanctions on Cuba have not led to the desired regime change on the socialist island, says an article from USA Today.

The remarks represent a 180 degree turn when compared to the position of his predecessor at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey, who harshly criticized Obama's move to relax sanctions on Cuba and reestablish diplomatic relations.

Corker, in his second term in the Senate, said most members of Congress need more time to learn about the embargo.

Only Congress can repeal the 1996 Helms-Burton Act, trough which economic sanctions on Cuba were written into law, although the White House can open up new, limited opportunities for travel, business and commerce.

Corker was named chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee Wednesday and will be confirmed by Senate Republicans and the full Senate in the next few days. The committee is a key panel with a strong say in national security, counter-terrorism, human rights, the use of military force, global trade, and foreign aid.