Washington has repeatedly expelled Cuban diplomats, often from the UN mission; Havana has answered with loud protest rather than matching expulsions, and the episodes have deepened freezes without severing relations.
The US expelled four Cuban diplomats from the UN mission and the Interests Section in Washington following the Ana Montes espionage case.
What happened next: Cuba protested; no matching expulsions; relations stayed frozen but intact.stalemate
The US expelled 14 Cuban diplomats, half from the UN mission, accusing them of intelligence activities.
What happened next: Havana denounced the move as provocation; channels remained open at a low level.stalemate
After unexplained health incidents among US staff in Havana, the US expelled 15 Cuban diplomats and cut its own embassy staff sharply.
What happened next: Cuba did not reciprocate with expulsions, but both missions were downgraded for years.escalation
The US expelled two members of Cuba's UN mission and restricted the rest largely to Manhattan.
What happened next: Rodríguez called the claims 'gross slander'; no matching expulsions followed.stalemate
Share of the 4 cases above that resolved this way. Small samples: treat as a prior, not a forecast.
After a scuffle at the UN embargo debate, Washington ordered a Cuban diplomat out as support for Havana slipped and US fuel interdictions deepened blackouts.
