US Orders Cuba’s UN First Secretary Out After Heated Assembly Clash

Washington has ordered the first secretary of Cuba’s UN mission to leave the country within 24 hours. The move follows a tense confrontation during a UN General Assembly session, US envoy Mike Waltz announced.

Cuban Diplomat Told To Leave Within A Day

The United States has ordered the first secretary of Cuba’s mission to the United Nations to exit the country within 24 hours. The order came after a heated clash broke out during a UN General Assembly session. US Permanent Representative to the UN Mike Waltz confirmed the decision.

How The Confrontation Started

The dispute erupted on Tuesday between the Cuban and American delegations. It began right after Waltz launched a sharp verbal attack against Havana during the assembly meeting. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez then walked up to the podium to protest the remarks. Waltz reportedly shouted at him, demanding he step back from the area.

What Waltz Said On Fox News

Speaking on Fox News, Waltz explained the diplomatic fallout that followed the heated exchange. He said:

“Secretary (Marco – ed.) Rubio signed a document on the expulsion of a diplomat… the first secretary of their delegation (to the UN – ed.), who pushed and tried to attack one of our diplomats. He’s gone. He’s going to be on a plane back to Havana within 24 hours.”

Reports Of A Phone Grab Incident

The New York Post reported that a member of the Cuban delegation tried to snatch a smartphone from an American diplomat. That diplomat had reportedly been filming the confrontation as it unfolded. This detail adds further context to the heated standoff between the two delegations.

Tensions Between Washington And Havana Continue

This incident adds to a string of recent frictions between the US and Cuba. Just days earlier, Cuba’s foreign minister had rejected fresh threats made by President Trump against the island nation. The latest expulsion order signals that diplomatic tensions remain far from resolved.