Cuban doctors leave Honduras as Trump pushes to isolate the island
ABC News
More than 150 Cuban medical staff have departed Honduras after the Central American country's new government abruptly cancelled the agreement
TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras -- More than 150 Cuban medical staff climbed aboard a plane in Honduras on Wednesday, leaving the Central American country after it's newly elected right-wing government abruptly cancelled the agreement.
The departure of the medical staff comes as President Donald Trump has pushed to isolate the Cuban government and openly called for regime change.
Cuba's practice of deploying doctors — often highly skilled in providing care with scarce resources – is often a means of diplomacy, but is heavily criticized by the U.S. government. Just last week Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he the U.S. believed that the Cuban medical program was a "form of human trafficking.”
The 168 medical workers departed from an airport in Honduras' second biggest city, San Pedro Sula, on their way to Havana after the Honduran government said the program did not meet the requirements established by internal regulators. The change comes just two months after President Nasry Asfura, who Trump threw his support behind in last year's elections, was sworn into office.
Honduran officials have previously dismissed claims that Honduras cancelled the program under pressure from the Trump administration.
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