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.
Japan and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime have launched a $9.4 million, two-year project across five Afghan provinces to help former poppy-growing...
A U.S. campaign to throttle Iran...
For centuries, Lahore has been shaped by the people, cultures and empires that passed through it. Now, the Pakistani city is preparing to put that ...
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that he thinks there is a chance of a peace being reached with Ukraine. He told the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia that he believed there was "a chance of finding a solution," to the conflict.
U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will visit Russia then Ukraine over the weekend, Russian state news agency TASS has reported, citing an unnamed source. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also said American envoys will visit the capitals of both countries.
The Iranian Health Ministry said at least 18 people were killed and 142 others injured in U.S. airstrikes carried out between 30 August and 2 September.
The Iranian Army has again struck at U.S. bases in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates in retaliation for U.S. attacks on southern and western parts of Iran late on Tuesday, which reportedly killed 18 people and injured more than 100 others.
U.S. efforts to squeeze Iran’s economy through an oil blockade and sanctions are becoming increasingly difficult for Tehran to withstand, according to three senior Iranian sources. Washington is escalating pressure in hopes of securing concessions in future negotiations.
The resolution, sponsored by African countries and led by Togo, passed by 164 votes to one, with six abstentions. The United States was the only country to vote against it.
Food prices around the world rose sharply in August, reaching their highest level since late 2022 as extreme weather and disruptions caused by conflicts drove the surge according to the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization.
U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will visit Russia then Ukraine over the weekend, Russian state news agency TASS has reported, citing an unnamed source. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also said American envoys will visit the capitals of both countries.
Southern Chinese provinces were bracing for more torrential rain on Friday after Typhoon Saudel triggered severe flooding, swamping vehicles, collapsing at least one building and forcing mass evacuations.
President Donald Trump is leaving more than a paper trail from his time in office. The U.S. is now minting commemorative $1 coins for America’s 250th anniversary, featuring a portrait of the sitting president.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment