By Islam El-Sakka
The Trump administration expelled a Cuban diplomat from the United States on Wednesday, a day after a heated shouting match between Cuba's foreign minister and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Michael Waltz at the UN General Assembly.
Shouting Match at General Assembly
The confrontation erupted on Tuesday as Ambassador Waltz spoke against a resolution calling for an end to the longstanding U.S. economic embargo against Cuba. The Cuban delegation and Waltz engaged in a verbal clash in the main UN hall, an unusual breach of diplomatic decorum.
Diplomat Accused of Assault
The State Department informed Cuba's UN mission that its first secretary, Richard Tur de la Concepción, was "not welcome" in the United States after he allegedly swatted at the phone of a U.S. official who was filming him at close range. In a social media post, Waltz accused the Cuban official of "assaulting" the American and later told Fox News the diplomat would be on a flight back to Havana the same day.
Escalating U.S.-Cuba Tensions
The incident comes amid renewed pressure from the Trump administration on Cuba's Communist government, which the White House hopes to push toward dramatic reforms or possible collapse. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently urged Cubans to collaborate with the CIA against their government, while President Trump told a Florida campaign rally that U.S. forces may "take care of Cuba" on their way back from Iran.
Embargo Resolution Sparks Incident
The diplomatic flare-up began during debate over the annual UN resolution condemning the U.S. embargo, a measure that consistently passes with overwhelming international support but is opposed by Washington.
