BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – The United States has issued a forceful condemnation of Cuba’s overseas medical missions program, categorizing it as a system of forced labor and calling for international accountability. In a statement from the US Embassy in Barbados, American officials declared their commitment to holding Cuban regime officials and foreign government partners responsible for facilitating these practices.
The US position asserts that foreign governments participating in these medical programs, despite documented human rights abuses, become complicit in the Cuban government’s tactics. According to the statement, these actions directly contribute to the exploitation of Cuban medical workers who serve abroad under questionable conditions.
The diplomatic communication emphasizes that Caribbean nations have ethical alternatives for recruiting foreign medical professionals to address their healthcare needs. The United States is urging all governments and citizens to reject forced labor schemes and join American efforts to demand greater accountability and respect for fundamental human rights principles in international medical cooperation programs.
This development represents a significant escalation in the US campaign against Cuba’s medical diplomacy program, which has been operational for decades and has deployed thousands of healthcare professionals worldwide, particularly throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.