SAN JOSE, March 18 (Reuters) - Costa Rica's President Rodrigo Chaves on Wednesday said he rejected the legitimacy of Cuba's government and ordered the closure of its embassy, a move that Cuba blamed on U.S. pressure.
Chaves, speaking at an event attended by the U.S. ambassador, said the decision was meant to protest poor living conditions for people in Cuba.
There has been an escalation of rhetoric in recent days from U.S. President Donald Trump, who said he expected to have the "honor" of "taking Cuba in some form."
"Costa Rica does not recognize the legitimacy of Cuba's Communist regime, given the mistreatment, repression, and undignified conditions endured by the inhabitants of that beautiful island," Chaves said at an event to inaugurate a drug-scanning station donated by the U.S.
He added: "We must cleanse the hemisphere of Communists."
Foreign Minister Arnoldo Andre said Cuba could maintain consular services in Costa Rica.
Cuba's foreign ministry said it was informed on Tuesday of Costa Rica's order for diplomatic staff to withdraw, leaving only consulate staff in place as of April 1. It said Costa Rica offered no justification.
"The Costa Rican government, which displays a history of subordination to United States policy against Cuba, once again joins the offensive by the U.S. government in its renewed attempts to isolate our country," the ministry said in a statement.
Cuba and the United States have recently opened talks aimed at improving relations, which have reached one of their most contentious moments in the 67 years since Fidel Castro overthrew what had been a close U.S. ally.
REGIONAL SHIFTS
Ecuador this month also closed its Cuban embassy, after declaring Cuban Ambassador Basilio Gutierrez and his diplomatic staff "persona non grata."
Ecuador's and Costa Rica's presidents were among right-wing-aligned Latin American presidents to attend an anti-crime summit Trump hosted in Florida this month, known as "Shield of the Americas."
Cuba's government has blamed a longstanding U.S. economic embargo for an economic crisis that has pushed over 1 million people to leave the island.
Most recently, the Trump administration's oil blockade on the island has contributed to widespread blackouts that have knocked out power across homes, hospitals and businesses.
Cuba has also seen its doctors program cut in a growing number of countries in Central America and the Caribbean.
The U.S. had accused the program of exploiting its workers and threatened sanctions on officials from countries that take in Cuban workers.
(Reporting by Alvaro Murillo, Editing by Daina Beth Solomon, Rod Nickel and Alistair Bell)
