Washington expels diplomats from the United Nations on charges of violating national security

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[rtl]The United States has expelled two Cuban diplomats working for the United Nations for "activities affecting American national security," a move condemned by Havana as "unjustified."[/rtl]





[rtl]"We asked two members of the Cuban mission to the United Nations who were engaged in activities that undermine US national security to leave the United States," US State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortigas tweeted.[/rtl]



[rtl]She explained that the Cuban Foreign Ministry had been "informed" of the "departure request". The ministry accused the two Cuban diplomats of "exploiting" their stay in the United States to "try to carry out destabilizing operations."[/rtl]



[rtl]"Members of the Cuban Mission to the United Nations must now also stay in Manhattan," she warned.[/rtl]



[rtl]"We take seriously all attempts to undermine the national security of the United States."[/rtl]



[rtl]The Cuban government was quick to condemn the US decision, which it considered "unjustified."[/rtl]



[rtl]"I categorically reject the unjustified expulsion of two staff members of the Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations and the tightening of the curfew on diplomats and their families," Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said in a tweet.[/rtl]



[rtl]The minister described the accusation of Cuban diplomats for acts incompatible with their diplomatic character as a "vulgar slander."[/rtl]



[rtl]The United Nations said it took note of the US declaration.[/rtl]



[rtl]"We will monitor this issue closely and will deal properly with the governments concerned," said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres's spokesman Stephane Dujarric.[/rtl]



[rtl]The United States, which has imposed an economic embargo on Cuba since 1962, has stepped up sanctions on the island since President Donald Trump came to power in 2017, reversing the rapprochement of his predecessor Barack Obama.[/rtl]



[rtl]In July, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel announced that the sanctions adopted by the Trump administration were causing a "complex economic situation" on the island, but stressed that "any imperialist policy" will not be able to stop its development.[/rtl]



[rtl]Washington accuses Cuba of providing military support to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Havana's main ally.[/rtl]



[rtl]In 2017, Washington deported 15 Cuban diplomats from US soil in the wake of mysterious incidents that caused physical damage to US diplomats in Cuba.[/rtl]



[rtl]US diplomats said at the time that the "attacks" that affected diplomats between November 2016 and August 2017 in homes and hotels in the Cuban capital were carried out with audio devices[/rtl]





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