Diplomatic tension: Cuba describes announcement of break with Costa Rica as “surprising”
The Government of Cuba has reacted with bewilderment to the recent statements by the Foreign Minister of Costa Rica, Manuel Tovar Rivera, who publicly stated that diplomatic ties between both nations have come to an end. Havana maintains that this alleged rupture has never been officially notified through the corresponding diplomatic channels.
From the island, they point out that the position adopted by the Costa Rican Ministry of Foreign Affairs lacks prior formal grounds. According to the official Cuban statement, the island’s authorities remain uninvolved in this decision, describing Foreign Minister Tovar’s actions as aligned with external interests that seek to deepen political differences in the region.
Background of the conflict
The crisis in the bilateral relationship began to brew on March 17, 2026, when Costa Rica informed, through a diplomatic note, its unilateral decision to close its embassy in Havana. At that time, the Costa Rican government requested that Cuba withdraw its diplomatic personnel in San José, maintaining only consular and administrative functions.
At that time, the then Costa Rican Foreign Minister, Arnoldo André Tinoco, was emphatic in communicating that those administrative measures did not imply, under any circumstances, a rupture of diplomatic relations between both States.
Havana’s stance
- Cuba emphasizes that no official communication, not even after the closure of the diplomatic mission in March, mentioned the term “formal rupture.”
- The Cuban government considers that these actions are a response to international pressure and not a real necessity of Costa Rican foreign policy.
- Havana reiterates that San José’s conduct is unjustified and lacks diplomatic basis, as it invokes principles of reciprocity that the Cuban executive categorically rejects.
This new episode marks a turning point in diplomatic ties between Havana and San José, highlighting a deep communication gap and growing political friction that, so far, has not received a formal clarification from the Costa Rican foreign ministry to the Cuban authorities.
