Mexico will continue accepting Cuban medical workers despite US pressure

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum praises services from Cuban doctors, who often work in underserved rural areas.Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has confirmed that her country will continue receiving Cuban medical workers, as part of a longstanding programme meant to build goodwill between the island and other Latin American countries.Her remarks on Wednesday come as the United States pressures Latin American countries to sever their ties to Cuba’s medical programme.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Why is the US targeting Cuba’s global medical missions?list 2 of 3Aid flotilla vessel arrives in Cuba amid US-driven energy crisislist 3 of 3US sanctions must be stopped as they reshape life in Cuba: UN rapporteurend of listSheinbaum, however, told reporters during a news conference that the agreement was a benefit to Mexico. Thousands of Cuban medical workers have deployed there since 2022 to work largely in poor, rural areas.“We have a very good agreement that’s also been a great help to us. It’s a bilateral agreement that’s been very beneficial for Mexico,” said Sheinbaum.“It’s hard to get Mexican doctors and specialists to go out to many rural areas where we need medical specialists, and the Cubans are willing to work there.”In February, the US passed a law that opens the door to sanctions on countries that continue to participate in the programme.It called for the US secretary of state to issue a report within 90 days about which countries continue to pay the government of Cuba for the “coerced and trafficked labour of Cuban medical professionals”.The move comes amid a wider push to further isolate Cuba and topple the government in Havana, a longtime target of US ire. So far, countries including the Bahamas, Honduras, Guatemala, Jamaica and Guyana have ended their participation in the Cuban medical exchange programme.Cuba has long depicted the decades-old programme as a means of signalling solidarity with other countries. It has also become an important source of foreign revenue for the island nation, which has been under a restrictive US economic embargo since 1960.