Gerardo Peñalver Portal, the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba, warmly welcomed Richard Tur de la Concepción at Havana's José Martí International Airport on Thursday. Tur, a Cuban diplomat, was expelled from the United States following an altercation with a U.S. official at the United Nations in New York.
Peñalver Portal shared photos on his X and Facebook accounts, showcasing a group of around ten Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINREX) officials with a Cuban flag in front of the "Welcome to Cuba" sign at the Havana airport. He described Tur as someone who "valiantly and firmly confronted the disrespectful and provocative behavior of the U.S. delegation at the United Nations."
The Cuban official went further, claiming that the incident was a strategic move by Washington aimed at undermining the vote on the resolution against the so-called genocidal blockade and Tur's candidacy for a significant UN body.
Nonetheless, there is video evidence of the physical altercation. During the annual General Assembly debate on the U.S. embargo against Cuba on October 27, Tur attempted to snatch the phone from J.P. Freire, the head of Strategic Communications for the U.S. mission, and struck him multiple times while he was recording. U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz later shared the footage online.
That same evening, Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed Tur's expulsion order. Waltz announced it on Fox News' Hannity program, stating, "He's leaving. He'll be on a plane to Havana within the next 24 hours. If you lay a hand on an American here in the U.S., President Trump, Secretary Rubio, and I will not tolerate it."
The State Department confirmed on Thursday that Tur had departed the U.S., labeling the Cuban regime as "incompetent" and highlighting their "true nature through intimidation and oppression tactics."
The celebratory welcome in Havana sharply contrasts with the real repercussions of the scandal for Cuba. The day after the incident, the Foundation for Human Rights in Cuba (FHRC) added Tur to its list of Cuban repressors. Furthermore, his candidacy for the UN's Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) for the 2027-2029 term is now in jeopardy, with the vote scheduled for November.
The annual resolution against the embargo, introduced since 1992, faced its worst-ever outcome this year, securing just 130 votes in favor, 17 against, and 25 abstentions, a stark drop from the 187 favorable votes Cuba received in 2024.
Additionally, Martí Noticias investigations revealed that Tur is not an ordinary diplomat. His father, Ricardo Tur Novo, operated under diplomatic cover in Bolivia, Paraguay, and Jamaica as an officer in the Cuban Intelligence Department, using the alias "Roger."
Frequently Asked Questions About the Cuban Diplomat Incident
Why was Richard Tur de la Concepción expelled from the United States?
Richard Tur was expelled due to a physical altercation with a U.S. official during a United Nations event, which involved attempting to seize the official's phone and striking him.
What was the response from the Cuban government?
The Cuban government, represented by Gerardo Peñalver Portal, welcomed Tur back to Havana with praise, portraying him as having stood up against U.S. provocation.
How did this incident affect Cuba's international standing?
The incident damaged Cuba's international standing, with Tur being added to a list of Cuban repressors and his UN candidacy jeopardized, alongside a poor outcome for the annual embargo resolution.