The Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINREX) issued a stern response on Thursday through an official statement on social media, condemning the Dominican Republic's decision to expel several members of the Cuban Embassy in Santo Domingo. MINREX labeled this move as a demonstration of "allegiance" to Washington's policies.
On the same day, Santo Domingo announced the mandatory departure of between nine and ten Cuban diplomats—MINREX claims ten, while the Dominican Foreign Ministry and local media report nine—along with their families, totaling approximately 21 individuals. They have until Sunday, August 16, to leave. The Dominican government justified the action under Article 9 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which allows the expulsion of diplomatic staff without public explanation.
The Dominican Foreign Ministry emphasized its commitment to confidentiality: "The Dominican Government adheres to current regulations and will continue to handle this matter discreetly and through established diplomatic channels, in the interest of preserving the relationship between both nations."
The Cuban regime, however, denied any misconduct by its representatives, attributing the expulsion directly to U.S. pressure. "There is no other explanation for this action than the Dominican Republic's submission to U.S. pressure, which aims to isolate Cuba by damaging our diplomatic ties with regional countries," MINREX declared in their statement.
The Cuban Foreign Ministry also recalled past incidents that they believe demonstrate Santo Domingo's alignment with Washington: the exclusion of Cuba from the X Summit of the Americas—originally scheduled in Punta Cana for October 2025 but later canceled—and the Dominican Republic's vote change at the UN General Assembly on the resolution against the U.S. embargo on Cuba, where Santo Domingo abstained in July 2026 after supporting the resolution with 165 countries the previous year.
Bilateral relations have worsened under President Luis Abinader's administration. In May 2026, Abinader openly stated in an Infobae interview that Cuba "obviously is not a democratic state."
The expulsion occurs amid increasing diplomatic isolation for Havana in Latin America. In March 2026, Ecuador expelled the entire Cuban mission in Quito within 48 hours, and Costa Rica closed its embassy in Havana amid criticisms of deteriorating human rights conditions on the island. In July, then-president-elect of Colombia, Abelardo de la Espriella, announced the severance of diplomatic relations with Cuba and Nicaragua, including plans to close 14 embassies and 15 consulates; De la Espriella assumed office on August 7.
Despite the severity of the diplomatic crisis, the Cuban MINREX attempted to distinguish between governmental relations and the ties between the peoples: "With this new act, the Dominican authorities significantly harm the ties between the two governments, but they cannot damage the deep and historical links between the Cuban and Dominican peoples, rooted in both nations' struggles for independence up to today."
Cuba and the Dominican Republic established diplomatic relations in 1902, which were disrupted during Rafael Leónidas Trujillo's dictatorship and fully restored in 1998. The deadline for Cuban diplomats to leave the Dominican territory is this Sunday.
Understanding the Diplomatic Tensions Between Cuba and the Dominican Republic
Why did the Dominican Republic expel Cuban diplomats?
The Dominican Republic expelled Cuban diplomats citing Article 9 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. This allows for the declaration of diplomatic staff as persona non grata without public explanation.
How has Cuba responded to the expulsion of its diplomats?
Cuba has denied any wrongdoing by its diplomats and attributed the expulsion to U.S. pressure on the Dominican Republic, viewing it as an attempt to isolate Cuba diplomatically.
What is the current state of Cuba's diplomatic relations in Latin America?
Cuba is facing increasing diplomatic isolation in Latin America, with countries like Ecuador and Costa Rica taking steps to distance themselves from Havana due to concerns over human rights.