Belize continues to navigate the future of the Cuban Medical Brigade

In other news, the future of the Cuban Medical Brigade in Belize remains unsettled, as the Briceño administration continues negotiations aimed at preserving vital healthcare services while responding to pressure from the United States.  Minister of Foreign Affairs Francis Fonseca provided an update today, saying the Government is still navigating a sensitive process involving Belize’s healthcare needs, its longstanding relationship with Cuba and its important diplomatic partnership with Washington.

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs: “It’s an ongoing discussion The Prime Minister was recently, as you know, in Washington, D.C. where he met with the Deputy Secretary of State Landau, they discussed that matter so it’s an ongoing discussion. My position still remains, and our position at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs still remains, that we believe that there is an opportunity for us to to keep certainly elements and members of the brigade. How we do that, how we structure that is still under discussion but I am hopeful that we can work out some arrangement which allows doctors, nurses, other medical professionals, Cuban medical professionals to get work permits or permanent resident status, something of that nature. But that discussion between ourselves, Ministry of Health and Wellness, you know, that is ongoing.”

The issue intensified in February 2025 when the United States expanded its visa-restriction policy targeting officials linked to Cuba’s overseas labour programme. Washington alleges that some Cuban medical missions involve forced labour and the exploitation of healthcare workers. In June 2025, the policy was specifically extended to Central American government officials believed to be involved in such arrangements. Cuba and several Caribbean governments have strongly rejected that characterization. Belize has hosted Cuban doctors, nurses and other medical professionals for decades, with brigade members playing an especially important role in rural and underserved communities.  By March of this year, Prime Minister John Briceño acknowledged that the programme was never intended to be permanent and pointed to Government’s efforts to train more Belizean doctors. Later that month, Fonseca rejected claims that Belize had received a formal notice from Washington ordering the Government to end the arrangement.  In April, Fonseca confirmed that Belize’s previous agreement with Cuba had expired and that the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Health were discussing a new arrangement with the Cuban Government. At that time, Belize had approximately ninety-two Cuban medical professionals, including forty-five doctors. Government also began exploring the recruitment of nurses from countries such as the Philippines and Nicaragua as a contingency measure. The matter took another turn in June when the United States indicated that it supported Belize winding down the existing brigade programme. Fonseca subsequently said Cabinet would make a final determination in September.