Dominican Republic expels Cuban diplomats, Cuba cries foul

The Dominican Republic has ordered the expulsion of nine Cuban diplomatic officials and their families, a move announced Thursday by the country's foreign ministry. No official reason was provided for the decision.

Cuba reacted sharply, describing the action as an act of "submission" to U.S. policies against Havana, which is currently facing an energy and financial blockade. The Cuban Foreign Ministry disputed the count, saying ten officials were involved, and expressed regret over the decision by Dominican President Luis Abinader, insisting there was "no reason whatsoever" to justify it.

The expulsion follows the launch of the "Shield of the Americas," a regional security initiative created by U.S. President Donald Trump in March. Cuba was excluded from that framework due to political differences and heightened tensions between Washington and Havana.

In recent months, several conservative Latin American governments, including Colombia and Ecuador, have either cut ties or closed their embassies in Cuba, aligning themselves with Trump's policies.

Miguel Mejía, the Dominican Republic's former Minister for Regional Integration Policies, called the measure extreme, comparing it only to the rupture imposed during the 31-year dictatorship of Rafael Leonidas Trujillo, which ended in 1961. He demanded that the government explain to the Dominican people the real reasons behind the decision.