As of August 5, 2026, diplomatic discussions over the future of the Cuban medical brigade currently serving in Belize remain active, according to the country’s top foreign affairs official.
Foreign Affairs Minister Francis Fonseca confirmed that Prime Minister John Briceno raised the contentious issue directly with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau during Briceno’s recent official visit to Washington D.C. During the meeting, the two leaders covered a range of bilateral topics including security collaboration, economic development initiatives and regional stability, with the status of Cuban medical workers emerging as a key point of conversation.
Fonseca noted that talks on the brigade’s future are still in progress, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has formally outlined its position: the government sees clear value in retaining a portion of the Cuban medical professionals currently working across Belize’s healthcare system. The exact structure and framework for any potential retention arrangement, however, have not yet been finalized.
The core objective of ongoing inter-ministerial negotiations, Fonseca explained, is to establish a legal pathway that allows Cuban doctors, nurses and other medical staff to remain in the country long-term. Discussions between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Health and Wellness are continuing to hash out details, which could range from issuing temporary work permits to granting permanent residence status to eligible members of the brigade.
For decades, Cuban medical brigades have provided critical healthcare support to low and middle-income countries across the Global South, but their presence has often been a point of diplomatic friction with the United States, which has long enforced sanctions on Cuba and pressured allied nations to end these medical partnerships. Belize’s ongoing deliberations come as the country balances its domestic healthcare needs with its diplomatic relationship with Washington.