Santo Domingo.— The Government of the Dominican Republic has reportedly given a deadline until this Sunday, August 16, for nine officials of the Cuban Embassy in Santo Domingo and their families to leave Dominican territory, according to information published in a national media outlet.
The measure would involve about 21 people, including Cuban diplomats, their wives and children, who must leave the country before the deadline established by the Dominican authorities concludes.
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So far, the reasons that motivated the decision to request the departure of the Cuban officials have not been officially reported. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic (MIREX) is expected to provide official information on the case and explain the scope of the measure.
What is known about the decision?
According to the information released, the Dominican authorities informed the Cuban diplomatic representation that the nine officials must leave the country accompanied by their families.
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The decision comes amidst diplomatic relations that, despite various moments of tension and distancing, are formally maintained between both States.
For now, it is unclear whether the measure corresponds to a declaration of persona non grata, an administrative decision related to the status of certain officials, or another mechanism contemplated within the rules that regulate diplomatic relations.
The absence of an official explanation makes it impossible to establish, for the moment, whether the measure responds to political, security, or diplomatic reasons, or to particular circumstances related to the officials involved.
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Dominican Republic and Cuba have maintained relations since 1902
Diplomatic relations between the Dominican Republic and Cuba have a long history. According to the Dominican Ministry of Foreign Affairs, both countries formally established diplomatic relations in 1902, marking the beginning of a relationship between both governments characterized by historical, cultural, and solidarity ties.
However, those ties went through different periods of interruption during the 20th century. Finally, relations were definitively re-established in 1998, giving way to a new stage of rapprochement between the Dominican Government and the Cuban Government.
Since then, both governments have maintained cooperation mechanisms in different areas. The MIREX records, for example, bilateral agreements related to cooperation, consular affairs, migration, and security. Among them is a Migration Memorandum signed in 2014, which remains in force and establishes coordination mechanisms between both governments.
Likewise, the Dominican Republic and Cuba signed a Framework Cooperation Agreement in 2019 in areas of bilateral interest. This agreement reflects the intention of both governments to maintain channels of dialogue and cooperation in different sectors, despite the political differences that may arise between the administrations of each country.
A new episode in the bilateral relationship
The eventual departure of the nine officials and their relatives represents an episode that could raise questions about the current state of ties between the Dominican Republic and Cuba, especially if the Dominican authorities subsequently offer an explanation regarding the reasons for the measure.
However, until the Dominican government issues an official communication, it cannot be established that there is a rupture of diplomatic relations between both countries.
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The Embassy of Cuba in Santo Domingo continues to be part of the bilateral diplomatic structure and both States maintain legal instruments and agreements in force. The MIREX has also publicly reported in recent years on meetings and efforts aimed at expanding the cooperation agenda between the two nations.
Awaiting an official explanation
The deadline established for the departure of the officials expires this Sunday, August 16, so attention is now focused on a possible communication from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The official explanation will allow for determining the causes of the measure, the diplomatic status of the affected officials, and whether the Dominican government is considering additional actions.
Meanwhile, the available information indicates only that nine Cuban officials and their relatives, about 21 people in total, must leave the Dominican Republic, without the reasons that led the authorities to make this decision having been made public so far.
