US Ejects Cuban Diplomat After UN Clash

The Trump administration expelled a senior Cuban diplomat from the United States on Wednesday following a physical altercation at the United Nations. The move marks a sharp escalation in diplomatic friction between Washington and Havana, occurring just as the administration intensifies calls for political change on the island.

The dispute began on Tuesday during a General Assembly session regarding the US economic embargo against Cuba. US Ambassador Mike Waltz and Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla engaged in a heated exchange at the podium. Video footage released later showed Rodríguez Parrilla shouting for a point of order while members of the Cuban delegation struck a table in front of them. Waltz accused the Cuban official of attempting to intimidate him, yelling that the minister needed to back away from the podium.

A second incident occurred during the same session, which Waltz cited as the primary justification for the ejection. He stated that a first secretary of the Cuban delegation shoved and tried to assault an American diplomat. In a Fox News interview on Tuesday, Waltz said the diplomat would be on a plane to Havana within 24 hours. By Wednesday, he confirmed the individual had departed the country.

The State Department confirmed the action on Wednesday, stating that Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed the paperwork for the ejection. A spokesperson said the individual was no longer welcome in the United States and criticized the Cuban regime for using intimidation tactics. The Cuban Mission to the UN sent a letter to the UN Secretary General on Tuesday, alleging that a US diplomat invaded the personal space of the Cuban official to film them for social media.

On Wednesday, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution condemning the US embargo with 130 votes in favor, 17 against, and 25 abstentions. This vote followed a period of increased pressure from the US government. On Friday, Rubio posted on social media that the time had come for positive change in Cuba, suggesting a partnership with the CIA. The agency subsequently released a Spanish-language video with instructions for contacting the organization.

President Trump recently discussed a military approach to the island at a South Florida rally. He said the US would stop near the Cuban coast while returning from Iran, allowing Rubio to "finish up the game." The administration has increased public rhetoric about intervention in recent days, shifting from economic pressure to explicit calls for the ouster of the current government.

The Cuban Mission to the UN did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the ejection. The expelled diplomat is expected to arrive in Havana soon, leaving a reduced delegation to represent the island at the UN.