Costa Rica Cuts Diplomatic Relations With Cuba

The government of Costa Rica announced Wednesday that it’s closing its embassy in Havana, while asking Cuba to reduce its diplomatic personnel in San José. Costa Rica’s president, who has consistently praised Donald Trump, justified the decision in a press conference, saying the hemisphere “should be cleansed of communists,” and that his administration does not recognize the government of Cuba.

Cuba’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the decision“arbitrary” and “obviously taken under pressure and without consideration for their national interests.”

Ecuador’s right-wing government expelled Cuban diplomats earlier this month.