Cuban diplomat Richard Tur de la Concepción expressed his appreciation for the support he received upon returning to Havana after being expelled from the United States due to an incident at the United Nations. He extended his thanks to the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINREX) for the warm reception and issued a statement condemning what he termed as "Yankee arrogance."
"Many thanks to the leadership at MINREX, the Ministry colleagues, and the countless individuals who have shown me affection over the past few days," Tur wrote on his X account, @ricktur_2013.
He concluded his message with a bold proclamation: "Cuba will rise above Yankee arrogance and anyone attempting to intimidate us. Best regards."
His response was posted beneath a message from the First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gerardo Peñalver Portal, who shared photos of the reception for Tur at Havana's José Martí International Airport.
The Official Reception in Havana
"We welcomed back to the homeland the young diplomat from @CubaMINREX, Richard Tur, who faced the disrespectful and provocative stance of the U.S. delegation at @ONU_es with dignity and firmness," Peñalver Portal stated.
The photographs shared by the vice minister showed Tur alongside several Cuban Foreign Ministry officials, posing with a national flag in front of the "Welcome to Cuba" sign at the Havana airport. The Union of Communist Youths at MINREX also highlighted his arrival.
Clashing Narratives
The official reception for the expelled diplomat stands in stark contrast to the narrative from Washington regarding the events that transpired on October 27 at the United Nations headquarters in New York.
During a confrontation over the debate concerning the U.S. embargo on Cuba, Tur attempted to snatch a phone from J.P. Freire, head of Strategic Communications for the U.S. mission, and struck at him several times while Freire recorded the incident.
The footage was later shared by U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz.
Washington's Reaction and Cuba's Defense
Following the incident, Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered Tur's expulsion, a decision Washington defended due to the Cuban official's conduct.
The State Department confirmed on Thursday that the diplomat had left U.S. soil.
Cuban authorities, however, stood by their diplomat's actions, accusing the American delegation of orchestrating a provocation to undermine the annual vote against the embargo and Tur's candidacy for the UN's Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ).
Moreover, the Foundation for Human Rights in Cuba (FHRC) added the diplomat to their list of Cuban repressors following the altercation.
Understanding the Diplomatic Tensions Between the U.S. and Cuba
What led to the expulsion of Cuban diplomat Richard Tur from the U.S.?
Richard Tur was expelled from the United States following an incident at the United Nations where he attempted to seize a phone from J.P. Freire and struck at him while he was filming, which prompted the U.S. to label his behavior as unacceptable.
How did the Cuban government respond to Tur's expulsion?
The Cuban government defended Tur's actions, accusing the U.S. delegation of setting up a provocation to influence the vote on the embargo and affect Tur's bid for a position at the UN.
What was the response in Havana upon Tur's return?
Upon his return to Havana, Richard Tur received a welcoming reception organized by MINREX, where he was greeted warmly by government officials and supporters.