U.S. Expels Cuban Diplomat Tur de la Concepcion
Cuban First Secretary Richard Tur de la Concepcion faces expulsion after a confrontation with U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz at the United Nations.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in International Relations
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The United States has expelled Cuban First Secretary Richard Tur de la Concepcion following a confrontation with U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz in October 2026. The episode unfolded during Waltz's speech denouncing Cuba's leaders as corrupt.
Why it matters
The expulsion highlights tensions between Washington and Havana playing out inside the United Nations, where diplomatic conduct carries direct consequences. It also underscores how disputes over U.N. spending and influence can escalate into formal diplomatic action.
The reported salary at stake is $200,000 a year for the U.N. role Tur de la Concepcion had been campaigning for. The source does not confirm whether that appointment will be cancelled following his expulsion.
The players
Mike Waltz
Mike Waltz is the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, who was delivering the speech denouncing Cuba's leaders when the confrontation occurred.
Richard Tur de la Concepcion
Richard Tur de la Concepcion is a Cuban First Secretary who was expelled from the United States after confronting Ambassador Waltz at the United Nations.
The details
Cuban delegation members advanced toward the rostrum as Waltz spoke, and an American official was recording their behavior on a phone. Tur de la Concepcion sought to slap the phone away and urged the U.N. to cut off Waltz's speech before the United States moved to expel him.
Timeline
October 2026: Tur de la Concepcion confronts Waltz during the U.N. speech.
November 7, 2026: Reports indicate he may lose his U.N. salary prospects.
Political Context
The expulsion applies the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which allows host states to declare diplomats persona non grata. The episode extends that practice into the setting of the United Nations, where Cuba and the United States have long clashed over the organization's budget and priorities.
For Americans following U.N. affairs, the case shows how diplomatic conduct at the organization can lead to direct government action. Readers tracking the U.N. budget may watch whether the proposed role tied to Tur de la Concepcion is formally cancelled.
The takeaway
Diplomatic confrontations inside multilateral forums can carry consequences well beyond the chamber where they occur. Following official State Department and U.N. statements is the most reliable way to track how the expulsion develops.
Further reading
For broader context on Washington's diplomatic standoffs, see International Relations coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Washington Times.
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