By Zoila Palma: Cuba has accused the United States of “extorting” Latin American countries by pressuring them to cancel long-standing agreements to host Cuban doctors, according to Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez.
He said Washington is targeting the island’s overseas medical programme, a major source of income, as part of broader efforts to weaken Cuba’s economy.
Rodríguez claimed the United States is attempting to “strangle” Cuba economically by pushing governments in the region to end cooperation with Havana.
The programme, which has operated since the 1960s, sends medical professionals abroad and generates billions of dollars for the country.
Washington, however, argues that the programme amounts to forced labour and has intensified its opposition under President Donald Trump.
Several countries have already withdrawn from agreements with Cuba amid this pressure, euronews reports.
Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica and Guyana have all ended their participation, as governments seeking closer ties with the United States reconsider their involvement in the medical missions.
Despite the setbacks, the programme remains a key economic lifeline for Cuba.
Official figures show around 24,000 Cuban doctors and healthcare workers were deployed across 56 countries in 2025, with many serving in remote or underserved regions. The initiative was expected to generate about $7 billion in revenue for the island.
At the same time, the programme has faced growing criticism.
A recent report by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights alleged serious abuses, including withheld wages, confiscated passports and threats against doctors who abandon their posts.
Cuban authorities have rejected the criticism, maintaining that the missions are acts of solidarity aimed at delivering healthcare to hard-to-reach communities.
The post International News: Cuba accuses United States of “extorting” Latin America following ending of doctor agreements appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Zoila Palma: Cuba has accused the United States of “extorting” Latin American countries by pressuring them to cancel long-standing agreements to host Cuban doctors, according to Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez. He said Washington is targeting the island’s overseas medical programme, a major source of income, as part of broader efforts to weaken Cuba’s economy.
The post International News: Cuba accuses United States of “extorting” Latin America following ending of doctor agreements appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
