August 27, 2025 — Belly of the Beast
Grenada’s Finance Minister Dennis Cornwall has become the latest government official to have his U.S. visa revoked over Cuba’s medical cooperation, according to The New Today.
Last February, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the policy of restricting the visas of government officials for their participation in hiring Cuban medical personnel, whom the U.S. deems “victims of forced labor.”
In June, the State Department targeted Central American officials. On August 13, the U.S. announced restrictions on government officials in Africa, Brazil, Cuba and Grenada – as well as their families.
After the February announcement, leaders across the Caribbean made headlines for standing up to U.S. pressure and defending Cuba’s medical cooperation with their countries.
“I always believe you have to put the people above one’s political self and, in that sense, I believe that my government has already sighted that we are prepared to go to the extreme to make sure to keep our people safe,” Cornwall said at the time. “So, if it means that we have to give up our visa’s right to the U.S. to make sure that Grenada stands behind Cuba as one of the countries that support Grenada in thick and thin, so be it.”
Cuba has been sending health professionals worldwide since the 1960s, particularly to countries in the Global South, where they provide healthcare for underserved communities. Cubans have also treated Ebola patients in Africa, earthquake victims in Pakistan and Haiti, and COVID patients in Europe.
Through contracts with host governments, this cooperation has become one of the main sources of foreign currency for Cuba — and a target for the U.S. The Cuban government says the money generated from the missions helps fund the nation’s free public health system.
