Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader confirmed his government ordered nine Cuban diplomats to leave the country while handling the matter discreetly to protect diplomatic relations.
Speaking at a press conference at the National Palace in Santo Domingo on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, Abinader said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was managing the case with Cuban officials through formal diplomatic channels. It marked the first time the Dominican president had spoken publicly about the situation.
Abinader stated that the withdrawal involved a specific issue with the Cuban government. He ruled out suggestions that the decision signaled a broader Dominican foreign policy shift toward distancing the country from other Caribbean and Latin American nations.
Dominican authorities gave the nine Cuban diplomatic officials a deadline to exit the country on August 13. The expulsion prompted an immediate diplomatic pushback from Havana.
The Cuban government rejected the move in the strongest terms, alleging that Dominican authorities acted under pressure from the United States. In an official statement, Cuban officials claimed the Dominican Republic had yielded to American attempts to isolate Cuba and harm its relations with regional partners.
Cuban Security Incidents at Sports Event
Dominican officials have not publicly confirmed a direct link between the expulsion of the diplomats and specific security incidents. However, the diplomatic departure followed security breaches involving Cuban citizens during the Central American and Caribbean Games.
The Central American and Caribbean Games are a regional multi-sport event hosted periodically by nations in the Caribbean and Central America. During the competition, host nation security agencies manage venue access and public safety across all sporting sites.
An investigation published by Dominican newspaper Diario Libre revealed that Cuban security personnel entered sports venues to monitor members of their own athletic team. The investigation indicated that Cuban agents acted out of concern over potential defections by Cuban athletes.
In one episode inside an indoor facility at Parque del Este, a major sports complex located in eastern Santo Domingo, Dominican military personnel detected Cuban agents pursuing athletes who were trying to defect from their delegation.
The Diario Libre report also established that several Cuban security agents disguised themselves by wearing official uniforms belonging to delegations from other countries. The tactic allowed them to move through athletic facilities and approach Cuban competitors undetected.
Diplomatic Status and Bilateral Communication
Dominican authorities have not issued a public statement confirming whether the security violations at the sports venues served as the official ground for removing the diplomatic staff. President Abinader emphasized that the foreign ministry maintains direct bilateral communication with Cuban representatives.
The Dominican Republic and Cuba share long-standing diplomatic representation in Santo Domingo and Havana. Bilateral affairs between the two Caribbean states are coordinated primarily through their respective ministries of foreign affairs.
Abinader concluded his press conference remarks by reiterating that the Dominican government chose to handle the departure of the nine officials with discretion to avoid further damaging bilateral ties with Cuba.
