The Cuba Study Group is deeply concerned that U.S. Intelligence agencies consider Moscow to be the prime suspect behind health incidents affecting U.S. diplomatic personnel in Cuba and China. These allegations are consistent with a troubling pattern of behavior by Russian leaders to expand their sphere of influence on the global stage by actively undermining U.S. interests.

While the evidence is not yet sufficiently conclusive for the U.S. to formally assign blame to Russia, it is clear that these incidents have dramatically disrupted the historic progress made in U.S.-Cuba relations since 2014. It is also clear that the only ones who have benefited from this rupture are those who oppose normalized relations between the United States and Cuba. That includes hardline voices in Washington, Miami, and potentially, Moscow.

In response to the incidents, the Trump administration precipitously withdrew most staff from the U.S. embassy in Havana and issued a travel warning for all U.S. citizens. There is no question that the safety of its diplomatic staff should be the U.S. government’s top priority. However, now more than ever, it is critically important that the United States not turn its back on engagement with Cuba. If the suspicions of U.S. intelligence officials prove true, disengagement at this time would only increase Russia’s leverage in the region.

The Cuba Study Group encourages those in the U.S. government who may seek to exploit these incidents to advance a narrow isolationist agenda against Cuba to remember which side they’re on. We urge the United States to continue to advance our national interests in Cuba through proactive engagement and resist pressure from supporters of isolationist policies to further roll back diplomatic ties.