Cuban Diplomat Returns Home: Havana Celebrates Tur After UN Scuffle
The first secretary of the Cuban mission to the UN was expelled by Washington following a dispute over a vote on sanctions.
By Alejandro Ruiz ·
Cuban officials greeted the return of Richard Tur de la Concepción to Havana on Friday, framing his homecoming as a victory following his expulsion by the United States. The incident stemmed from a physical dispute at the United Nations headquarters in New York earlier this week. Tur, who served as the first secretary of Cuba’s mission to the UN, arrived at the capital's airport accompanied by senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The timeline of the confrontation began on Tuesday during a plenary session of the UN General Assembly. Delegates were debating a draft resolution aimed at rejecting US sanctions on the island. The US delegation accused Tur of pushing an American colleague during the session. They also alleged he attempted to seize a phone that was recording the proceedings. The dispute escalated into a verbal exchange between US Representative Mike Waltz and Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez.
US officials moved quickly to formalize the diplomatic break. Representative Waltz announced the departure of the Cuban diplomat from the New York headquarters. The State Department subsequently confirmed the decision. Washington cited the conduct of Tur during the public altercation as the basis for the expulsion.
Havana’s response was immediate and celebratory. First Deputy Foreign Minister Gerardo Penalver posted photos of Tur on social media on Friday. In his post, Penalver described Tur as having faced the
“disrespectful and provocative attitude” of the US delegation with dignity. Penalver argued that the US actions were part of a strategy to obstruct the vote on the anti-blockade resolution and to hinder Tur’s bid for a key UN organ.
The General Assembly session concluded on Wednesday with the passage of the Cuban proposal. The final vote recorded 130 votes in favor, 17 against, and 25 abstentions. Although the resolution is non-binding, it is presented annually in the multilateral forum. Tur used his own social media account to acknowledge the reception in Cuba. He wrote that the country would prevail against what he termed “Yankee arrogance.”
The incident occurs against a backdrop of rising tensions between the two nations. President Donald Trump imposed an energy blockade on Cuba in January. The measure seeks to force changes in the island's government and political model. The expulsion of Tur marks the latest friction in that ongoing standoff.
Source: Daily Southtown
