The Cuban government has accused Costa Rica of yielding to U.S. pressure following its decision to shut down its embassy in Havana and reduce bilateral relations to a consular level.
In a statement from Cuba’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the move was communicated through a diplomatic note and described as a unilateral, arbitrary action lacking justification by Costa Rican authorities.
Cuba's Foreign Ministry argued that the decision was driven by external pressures rather than the interests of the Costa Rican people, criticizing what it sees as San José's consistent alignment with Washington's policies towards the island.
The Cuban administration also opposed the demand to cut down the diplomatic staff at its embassy in Costa Rica, a request that Havana claims is based on an unfounded notion of reciprocity.
As per the statement, from April 1st onward, the relationship between the two countries will be limited strictly to consular interactions, marking a significant reduction in diplomatic ties.
Havana perceives this measure as part of a broader strategy led by the United States to isolate Cuba within the region, amidst increasing political and economic pressure on the regime.
Nevertheless, the Cuban government asserted that this action will not affect the historical connections between the two nations, maintaining that human and cultural relations between Cuba and Costa Rica will continue.
Meanwhile, Costa Rica announced on Wednesday that it is closing its embassy in Havana and requested that the Cuban government withdraw its diplomatic personnel from San José, a decision reflecting a strong political stance on the island's situation.
President Rodrigo Chaves and Foreign Minister Arnoldo André confirmed the measure, citing the ongoing deterioration of human rights in Cuba, exacerbated recently by repression, power outages, and widespread shortages.
"The decision stems from the country's deep concern over the sustained decline of human rights conditions on the island," stated André, who also highlighted the rising persecution against activists, dissidents, and government critics.
This diplomatic setback for the Cuban regime follows another incident earlier this month when Ecuador declared the Cuban ambassador in Quito and all diplomatic, consular, and administrative staff as persona non grata, granting them 48 hours to leave the country.
The decision was officially communicated by Ecuador's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility in a diplomatic note dated March 4th, addressed to the Embassy of the Republic of Cuba in Ecuador.
Understanding the Diplomatic Tensions Between Cuba and Costa Rica
Why is Costa Rica closing its embassy in Havana?
Costa Rica is closing its embassy in Havana due to concerns over the deteriorating human rights situation in Cuba, including increased repression, power outages, and shortages.
How has Cuba responded to Costa Rica's decision?
Cuba has criticized Costa Rica's decision, attributing it to U.S. influence and rejecting the demand to reduce its diplomatic staff in Costa Rica.
What impact will the embassy closure have on Cuba-Costa Rica relations?
The closure will limit the relationship between Cuba and Costa Rica to consular interactions, significantly reducing diplomatic engagement between the two countries.