Dominican Republic asks Cuba to withdraw nine diplomats
Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- The Dominican government has requested the withdrawal of nine members of the Cuban diplomatic mission and their families.
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the decision but did not disclose the reasons, citing diplomatic discretion.
- The government stated the measure is in line with international law and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which allows for declaring diplomats persona non grata without explanation.
The Dominican government has formally requested the expulsion of nine members of the Cuban diplomatic mission, along with their families. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the decision, granting the Cuban representatives seven days to depart the country. However, the specific reasons behind this significant diplomatic move remain undisclosed.
The Ministry issued a brief statement, emphasizing that the decision is rooted in diplomatic communications and that no further explanations will be provided. This stance aims to maintain discretion and preserve bilateral relations between the two nations. The government asserts that its action is in accordance with international law and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
Article 9 of the Vienna Convention grants host countries the right to declare diplomatic personnel persona non grata or unacceptable without being obligated to explain their decision. The sending country is then required to recall the individuals. While the Dominican Republic is not legally bound to publicize the causes for its request, the lack of transparency has fueled speculation regarding the underlying issues.
Originally published by Diario Libre in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.