The US said today it will withdraw about 60 per cent of its personnel from the embassy in Cuba in response to mysterious health attacks on more than 20 American diplomats in Havana.
The decision taken by the State Department comes amid specific health attacks on 21 US diplomats in Havana, leaving them with dizziness, concussions, hearing loss and other symptoms.
"Until the Government of Cuba can ensure the safety of our diplomats in Cuba, our Embassy will be reduced to emergency personnel in order to minimise the number of diplomats at risk of exposure to harm," US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said.
He said the US will continue to maintain its diplomatic ties with Cuba.
As a result of the sizeable reduction in its embassy personnel, the US will stop issuing visas in Cuba indefinitely. It would also stop official delegation travel to the country, a senior State Department official told reporters during a conference call.
The cause of the mysterious health attack, which were for the first time reported in August, is still being investigated.
According to some media reports, the attacks were caused through a sonic device. The State Department is yet to find such a device.
The officials have not ruled out the possibility of a third-country behind the attack on its diplomats.
Supporting the decision, Senator Patrick Leahy said the health and safety of US diplomats and their families was the overriding concern for America.
It remains "a mystery" what is causing this and who is behind it, he said.
"Whoever is doing this obviously is trying to disrupt the normalisation process between the United States and Cuba. Someone or some government is trying to reverse that process," Leahy said.
Soon after Leahy's remarks, the State Department warned US citizens not to travel to Cuba.
Noting that over the past several months, numerous employees at the US Embassy in Havana had been targeted, the State Department said these employees have suffered significant injuries as a consequence of these attacks.
Tillerson said the affected individuals have exhibited a range of physical symptoms, including ear complaints, hearing loss, dizziness, headache, fatigue, cognitive issues, and difficulty in sleeping.
Investigators have been unable to determine who is responsible or what is causing these attacks.
Early this week, Tillerson had met his Cuban counterpart Bruno Eduardo Rodriguez Parrilla in Washington. Cuba has denied of having any role in such mysterious attacks and is providing all support to the FBI which is investigating the matter.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
