The Cuban government has issued a strong condemnation of Costa Rica’s unexpected decision to shutter its embassy in Havana and downgrade diplomatic relations. The move, communicated via diplomatic note on March 17th without prior consultation or justification, represents a significant deterioration in bilateral ties between the two nations.
According to Cuba’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Costa Rican officials invoked an ‘alleged and unfounded principle of reciprocity’ when demanding that Cuba withdraw its diplomatic staff from San José while maintaining only consular and administrative personnel. The Central American nation further notified that effective April 1st, it would maintain relations with Cuba strictly at the consular level.
The Cuban statement particularly criticized Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves Robles for what it characterized as ‘disrespectful statements’ made during a March 18th press conference. Cuban authorities accused Chaves of ‘crudely manipulating the history and reality of Cuba’ while ignoring the documented impact of the U.S. economic blockade on Cuba’s economic situation and living conditions—a fact previously acknowledged by Costa Rican governments.
Havana described the decision as ‘arbitrary’ and ‘evidently adopted under pressure,’ suggesting it disregarded both national interests and regional solidarity. The Cuban government framed this development as Costa Rica’s latest alignment with U.S. policy objectives against Cuba, noting the country’s ‘history of subordination to U.S. policy against Cuba.’
The statement positioned the embassy closure as part of a broader U.S. offensive to isolate Cuba within the Americas, making Costa Rica ‘a participant in its aggressive escalation against the Cuban Revolution.’ Despite these diplomatic tensions, Cuba expressed confidence that the move would ultimately fail, emphasizing the ‘unbreakable bonds’ between the Cuban and Costa Rican peoples, historically connected through figures like independence heroes José Martí and Antonio Maceo.
The diplomatic note was formally released from Havana on March 18th, 2026, marking a new chapter in the complex relationship between the two American nations.