The Dominican Republic has ordered the expulsion of nine Cuban diplomatic officials and their families without providing a stated reason, according to the country's foreign ministry. Cuba's Foreign Ministry stated that 10 officials were involved and strongly criticized the decision as an act of "submission" to U.S. policies.
The expulsion follows the recent creation of the "Shield of the Americas," a regional security initiative launched in March by U.S. President Donald Trump. Cuba was excluded from this initiative due to existing political differences and heightened tensions with the United States.
In recent months, several Latin American nations with conservative governments, including Colombia and Ecuador, have severed ties or closed their embassies in Cuba, aligning themselves politically with the Trump administration. Cuba's Foreign Ministry expressed regret over the Dominican authorities' decision, asserting that there was no justification for it.
Miguel Mejía, who previously served as the Dominican Republic's Minister for Regional Integration Policies, described the expulsion as an extreme measure. He drew a comparison to the ruptures in relations experienced during the dictatorship of Rafael Leonidas Trujillo, which concluded in 1961. Mejía has called for the Dominican government to disclose the specific reasons behind this decision to its citizens.