A diplomatic dispute has erupted between Cuba and the Dominican Republic after Santo Domingo ordered the withdrawal of several Cuban diplomats and their family members, prompting a sharp response from Havana.
In a statement on Thursday, Cuba's Foreign Ministry condemned the decision, describing it as unjustified and accusing the Dominican government of acting under pressure from the United States. Cuban officials said they had received a formal request for nine members of their diplomatic mission, along with relatives, to leave the country.
The expulsions mark a further deterioration in relations between the Caribbean neighbours at a time when Cuba is facing increasing diplomatic and economic challenges across the region.
Cuba insisted there was no legitimate basis for the decision and defended the conduct of its diplomatic staff.
According to the Foreign Ministry, Cuban diplomats have acted in accordance with both the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and Dominican law throughout their time in the country.
"There is no other explanation for this action than the submission of the Dominican Republic government to pressure from the U.S. government," the ministry said.
Havana argued that the move forms part of a broader effort by Washington to isolate Cuba internationally and weaken its relations with governments across Latin America and the Caribbean.
The diplomatic row comes against the backdrop of increasingly strained relations between Santo Domingo and Havana.
In recent years, Dominican officials have adopted a more critical stance towards Cuba, coinciding with a period in which the island has faced mounting economic difficulties and declining regional support.
Cuban authorities pointed to several recent decisions by the Dominican Republic as evidence of a shift in policy. These included support for Cuba's exclusion from the postponed Summit of the Americas and a change in Santo Domingo's voting position on a longstanding United Nations resolution calling for an end to the U.S. embargo on Cuba.
For Havana, those actions suggest a growing alignment between the Dominican Republic and Washington on Cuba-related issues.
While condemning the expulsions, Cuba sought to distinguish between government relations and people-to-people ties.
Officials warned that the decision would significantly affect relations between the two governments, potentially complicating diplomatic engagement on regional issues.
At the same time, Havana stressed that it did not believe the dispute would undermine the historical and cultural connections that exist between Cuban and Dominican citizens.
The Dominican Republic has not publicly provided a detailed explanation for the expulsions, leaving unanswered questions about what prompted the move and whether further measures could follow.
The dispute highlights the increasingly complex diplomatic landscape facing Cuba as it navigates a challenging economic period and changing political dynamics across the Americas.
For decades, Havana relied on a network of regional allies and partners. However, shifting political priorities in several countries, combined with the continued impact of U.S. sanctions and economic pressures, have altered that environment.
Against that backdrop, the latest diplomatic clash with the Dominican Republic represents another setback for Cuba's regional outreach efforts and adds a new source of tension between two countries that have traditionally maintained close cultural and historical links.
Whether the disagreement remains confined to diplomacy or develops into a broader political dispute will likely depend on how both governments choose to proceed in the coming weeks.
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