Guatemala to End Use of Cuban Doctors, Under U.S. Pressure

New York Times - WorldEN 4 min read 100% complete by Jody García and James WagnerFebruary 11, 2026 at 02:32 AM

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long article 4 min

In February 2026, Guatemala announced it will phase out its nearly 30-year-old program employing Cuban doctors. The program, involving 412 Cuban medical workers, including 333 doctors, has been a vital source of income for Cuba. The Guatemalan government stated the decision was based on a "technical analysis" to strengthen its national healthcare system. However, the decision follows pressure from the Trump administration, which views the Cuban medical missions as exploitative and a source of revenue for the Cuban government. Guatemala, under President Arévalo, has recently increased cooperation with the U.S., including a trade deal and collaboration on law enforcement. Several other countries have ended similar Cuban medical programs following U.S. pressure.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Guatemala ×3100% Cuba ×2100% United States ×3100% Venezuela ×2100% Paraguay 100% Bernardo Arévalo ×2100% Marco Rubio ×3100% Nicolás Maduro (Maduro) ×2100%

Keywords

cuban doctors 100% medical program 90% guatemala 80% u.s. pressure 70% trump administration 60% healthcare system 60% medical missions 50% trade deal 40% income for cuba 40%