The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba rejects the statements made on 26 July by Colombia’s President-Elect, Abelardo de la Espriella Otero, who announced that he will close his country’s Embassy in Havana and that his government will not have any type of relationship with our country.

These are statements that depart from the historic relations of friendship and brotherhood between Cuba and Colombia.

If this decision were to be carried out, which has not the slightest justification nor responds to Colombian national interests, it would reveal the clear subordination of Colombia’s next government to the policy of division and confrontation between our nations, promoted since always by the United States, as well as its connections with the most infamous and vulgar elements of anti-Cuban politics in that country.

Nothing could be further from the ideals of Latin American and Caribbean unity upheld by the heroes of both countries, to which the peoples of the region have devoted so much effort and sacrifice.

With Colombia there is a fluid bilateral relationship, which shows significant progress in the economic-commercial sphere, in cooperation and academic exchanges, for the benefit of both peoples. It has been a permanent interest of Cuba to expand and strengthen it.

Cuba knows that this hostile and unfounded action does not represent the feelings of the brotherly Colombian people, whom we have tirelessly supported for decades in the search for peace through a negotiated political solution to their internal armed conflict.

Cuba will honour its commitments to the students studying Medicine in our country, as part of the Peace Agreements signed in Havana in 2016.

The brotherhood of both peoples and nations will prevail over any attempt to affect it.

Havana, 28 July 2026.