Cuban Doctors Leave Guatemala After Deal Ends Under US Pressure

GUATEMALA – Cuban doctors departed Guatemala after the Central American country’s government ended a medical cooperation agreement with the Caribbean nation.

They had worked under an agreement that allowed Cuban medical personnel to serve in both rural and urban health centres.

The medical brigades are a key source of revenue for the Cuban government, as foreign governments pay the doctors’ salaries directly to the Cuban government.

Under the Trump administration, Secretary of State Rubio repeatedly pressured Latin American and Caribbean governments to end the cooperation programs.