Uruguay faces U.S. pressure over Cuba relations and medical brigades

Tensions are rising between Uruguay and the United States regarding diplomatic stances on Cuba. Uruguayan legislator Daniel Diverio has called for a firm stance against the U.S. economic blockade, citing a report from Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez that estimates damages to Cuba at over eight billion dollars between March 2025 and February 2026.

Simultaneously, the United States has reportedly pressured the government of President Yamandú Orsi to end the presence of the Cuban medical brigade, which has operated in Uruguay since 2005. This pressure comes amid broader geopolitical friction, as Uruguay and Brazil have declined to join certain U.S.-led initiatives, such as the Hemispheric Western Joint Task Force, and have resisted certain proposals regarding the deportation of Cubans.