A Lot of Fear': Trump Admin Pressures Countries to Expel Cuban Doctors, Memo Reveals

"Cuba's overseas medical missions have long been a major source of revenue for the island's government. According to the memo, roughly 19,000 Cuban healthcare professionals currently work across 16 countries in the Western Hemisphere. In some nations, the doctors account for more than one-fifth of the medical workforce. U.S. officials believe dismantling the program could significantly weaken the Cuban government's finances and regional influence."

"State Department senior official Jeremy Lewin told Politico that the missions represent a major source of funding for the regime, describing them as one of the most pernicious examples of modern-day slavery and forced labor."

"Honestly, there's a lot of fear, a senior Caribbean official told the outlet, describing the difficult position many countries face as they weigh their reliance on Cuban doctors against their relationships with the United States."

The Trump administration is implementing a strategy to persuade Western Hemisphere governments to terminate their medical partnerships with Cuba. A State Department memo reveals plans to convince nations relying on Cuban healthcare workers to sever ties, offering alternatives including telemedicine programs, training resources, and assistance recruiting healthcare workers from other countries. Approximately 19,000 Cuban medical professionals currently work across 16 Western Hemisphere nations, with some countries depending on them for over one-fifth of their medical workforce. U.S. officials view dismantling this program as crucial to weakening Cuba's finances and regional influence. State Department officials characterize the missions as exploitative labor practices. Honduras and Jamaica have already ended partnerships with Cuba, while other nations face pressure from Washington amid concerns about their relationships with the United States.

Read at www.mediaite.com