Washington ( CNN ) -- Hillary Clinton backed President Barack Obama 's historic easing of decades-old sanctions against Cuba on Wednesday and said she is `` deeply relieved '' by the release of U.S. contractor Alan Gross . Clinton , who was secretary of state when Gross was arrested in 2009 , backed Obama in a statement Wednesday night that was in stark contrast with her Republican counterparts in the field of potential 2016 presidential contenders . `` I support President Obama 's decision to change course on Cuba policy , while keeping the focus on our principal objective -- supporting the aspirations of the Cuban people for freedom , '' Clinton said in a statement . She called Gross 's release `` great news , '' and noted that as secretary of state , she pushed for his release , stayed in contact with Gross 's family and `` called for a new direction in Cuba . '' `` Despite good intentions , our decades-long policy of isolation has only strengthened the Castro regime 's grip on power , '' Clinton said . `` As I have said , the best way to bring change to Cuba is to expose its people to the values , information and material comforts of the outside world , '' she said . `` The goal of increased U.S. engagement in the days and years ahead should be to encourage real and lasting reforms for the Cuban people . And the other nations of the Americas should join us in this effort . '' Her comments largely echo Obama 's remarks . But Republicans , like Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and former Florida Gov . Jeb Bush , called the move to ease the two countries ' diplomatic strain a mistake , saying it would weaken the United States ' negotiating position in pushing for democracy in the communist nation .
Clinton endorsed President Hillary Clinton 's announcement to normalize relations with U.S. . Alan Gross called the release of U.S. contractor Barack Obama `` great news ''