Dominican Republic Expels Cuban Diplomats Amid U.S. Alignment

The Government of the Dominican Republic ordered the expulsion of Cuban diplomatic officials and their families from Santo Domingo on August 13, 2026. While the Dominican government initially stated nine officials were affected, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba claims the number is 10. All affected personnel must exit the country by August 16.

Dominican authorities provided no formal rationale for the decision. However, the move follows public criticisms from President Luis Abinader regarding Cuba's lack of democracy and coincides with a regional trend of isolation. Conservative governments in Colombia and Ecuador have recently severed or reduced ties with Havana to align with U.S. policy.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba condemned the expulsions as an act of submission and subservience to the United States, alleging that Santo Domingo caved to pressure from Washington. This diplomatic rift follows the March launch of the Shield of the Americas, a regional security initiative established by U.S. President Donald Trump that excluded Cuba. Former Dominican minister Miguel Mejia characterized the measure as extreme, comparing it to the diplomatic rupture seen during the Rafael Leonidas Trujillo dictatorship.