The Fort Worth Press - Costa Rica cuts ties with Cuba, closes embassy in Havana

Costa Rica's leadership is allied with US President Donald Trump, who has escalated threats to topple Cuba's authorities and is pressing a punishing energy blockade against the island nation.

Chaves' statement came shortly after Costa Rica said it was closing its embassy in Havana and told Cuba to withdraw its diplomatic staff from San Jose, the Costa Rican capital.

Chaves told a press conference that Costa Rica "does not recognize the legitimacy of Cuba's communist regime, in light of the mistreatment, repression and undignified conditions in which they hold the inhabitants of that beautiful island."

"The hemisphere must be cleansed of communists," said the right-wing leader, who is set to be succeeded by his party colleague, Laura Fernandez, on May 8. "We will not grant legitimacy to a regime that oppresses and tortures nearly 10 million Cubans today."

When asked whether his decision signified a complete severing of ties, Chaves stated that "at this moment, Costa Rica and the Cuban communist regime do not have diplomatic relations."

Chaves noted that, should it wish to do so, Havana may retain its consular staff in the country to attend to about 10,000 Cuban residents, while Costa Rica will serve its own citizens from Panama. The Costa Rican embassy had been without diplomatic staff since Feb. 5.

— Under Pressure from Trump —

Costa Rica is following in the footsteps of another Trump ally, Ecuador, which on March 4 expelled Cuba's ambassador, Basilio Gutierrez, accusing him of interfering in the country's internal political affairs and engaging in "violent activities."

Costa Rica and Ecuador are part of a group of Latin American nations that recently formed an alliance with Trump to combat drug traffickers using military force.

Cuba is facing an economic crisis, exacerbated by the suspension in January of crude oil supplies from Venezuela following the ousting of president Nicolas Maduro in a US military intervention.

For weeks, Trump has escalated his threats against Havana and its leadership, while simultaneously asserting that the island — which is currently engaged in talks with Washington — wishes to "conclude an agreement" with the United States.

On Monday, Trump asserted that he hopes to have "the honor of taking Cuba, in some way." Cuba, which has been under a US embargo since 1962, confirmed last Friday that it is indeed in talks with its powerful neighbor.

Havana also released political prisoners as part of an agreement with the Vatican, a historic mediator between the two nations.

A.Maldonado--TFWP