Cuba accuses Dominican Republic of submitting to U.S. pressure after diplomat expulsions

Cuba's Foreign Ministry has vehemently denounced the Dominican Republic's decision to expel Cuban embassy officials and their families from Santo Domingo. Havana characterized the move as an "act of subordination" to United States policy toward the island, rejecting it in the "strongest possible terms."

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in the strongest possible terms

In a statement released Thursday, the Cuban Chancellery deemed the Dominican authorities' decision unjustified. Cuba asserted that its diplomats acted in "strict adherence" to the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and with respect for Dominican laws. The ministry stated, "There is no reason whatsoever to justify this decision by the Dominican authorities. Cuban diplomats have always acted in strict adherence to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961 and with absolute respect for the laws of that sister nation."

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act of subordination

Cuba highlighted a discrepancy in the number of expelled officials, stating ten were affected, while the Dominican Chancellery mentioned nine. The Cuban government maintains that Washington is pressuring the Dominican Republic to deteriorate Cuba's diplomatic relations with other regional countries. Havana pointed to the island's exclusion from the Summit of the Americas and a change in Dominican voting positions at the UN General Assembly on resolutions against the U.S. blockade as evidence of this U.S.-influenced policy.

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There is no reason whatsoever to justify this decision by the Dominican authorities. Cuban diplomats have always acted in strict adherence to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961 and with absolute respect for the laws of that sister nation.

The statement continued, "There is no explanation for this action other than the submission of the Dominican Republic's government to the pressures of the U.S. government, which, in its endeavor to isolate Cuba, has set out to damage our diplomatic relations with the countries of the region." Cuba believes the Dominican decision "sensibly damages" ties between the two governments, though it stated this will not affect the historical bonds between the Cuban and Dominican peoples. The ministry emphasized existing cultural, economic, and solidarity links, vowing to continue defending these connections while reiterating its "invariable friendship and solidarity" with the Dominican people.

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There is no explanation for this action other than the submission of the Dominican Republic's government to the pressures of the U.S. government, which, in its endeavor to isolate Cuba, has set out to damage our diplomatic relations with the countries of the region.