Costa Rica confirms diplomatic break with Cuba, citing decades of oppression

In a statement on X, Costa Rica’s foreign minister Manuel Tovar confirmed that the country terminated diplomatic relations with Cuba in March, following the closure of its Havana embassy and the expulsion of Cuban diplomats under former President Rodrigo Chaves. The decision was maintained by Chaves' successor, Laura Fernandez, and was framed as a response to what Tovar called a six-decade-long tyranny in Cuba. During a visit to the United States, Tovar met with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and told one outlet that the break remains firm.

The Cuban government, however, said it had never received an official notification and dismissed the move as Costa Rica’s submission to U.S. pressure. The episode underscores the growing rift between Costa Rica and Cuba amid broader U.S. efforts to isolate the Cuban regime.