General Assembly Resumes Debate on Ending Cuban Embargo, as Havana Leads Outcry against ‘Cruel’ Extraterritorial Ambitions of United States
The General Assembly today resumed consideration of the United States’ decades-long economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba, adopting an urgent proposal by Havana to re-open debate amid the “unprecedented actions of an extreme extraterritorial nature” being undertaken against the island nation by Washington, D.C.
The Assembly considers the necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba annually, most recently last October, when it adopted resolution A/80/L.6 calling for an end to the blockade by a recorded vote of 165 in favour to 7 against, with 12 abstentions.
In Recorded Vote, Assembly Decides to Resume Debate
At the meeting’s outset, the representative of the United States took the floor to object to the Assembly’s resumption of the agenda item, pointing out that Member States had considered the issue in October. Describing today’s meeting as a “wasteful” use of $84,000 in United Nations funds, he said that sum could have been used to “feed 3,500 Cuban children for a month”. He called for a recorded vote on whether to proceed, as Cuba’s delegation repeatedly pounded on its desk.
In turn, Cuba’s Foreign Minister, Bruno Eduardo Rodríguez Parrilla, on a point of order, questioned which rules of procedure were being invoked and objected to both the substance and procedural nature of the United States’ remarks.
The Assembly then voted in favour of holding an additional debate on the agenda item, adopting the motion by 136 votes in favour to 9 against (Argentina, Costa Rica, Czechia, Israel, Morocco, North Macedonia, Paraguay, Ukraine, United States), with 30 abstentions.
Cuba Accuses United States of ‘Cruel’ Warfare, as Washington, D.C., Blames Havana for ‘Whitewashing’ Its Own Crimes
Following the vote, Mr. Rodríguez Parrilla accused the United States of carrying out “multidimensional, non-conventional warfare” against the Cuban people — actions that have “become ever more cruel over the last seven months”. He warned that access to fuel supply is being hindered by direct threats, unilateral coercive actions and intimidation of oil tankers by the United States military.
“In the last few months, the humanitarian damage to our population has intensified,” he said. Families are suffering through blackouts, a lack of water, shortage of medication, food scarcity and the soaring price of essential goods. People with cancer lack access to life-saving medication. And Cuba’s infant mortality rate of 4 per 1,000 live births in 2025 increased to 9.9 — deaths that would not have occurred had there been equipment and therapies.
“The blockade asphyxiates and kills silently,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, damage to Cuba’s economy from March 2025 to February 2026 had ballooned to $8 billion — a 7 per cent increase over last year. “The fallacious [United States] Government [is] trying to justify the crime of genocide,” he stressed.
Countering that narrative, the United States representative blamed the Cuban regime for “mercilessly” imposing its own embargo on the Cuban people decade after decade. While another blackout is sweeping the island, “there always seems to be enough power for the regime’s offices,” he said, “including apparently to type up today’s remarks blaming the United States”.
“Those banging on the table here today don’t like free speech,” he said, as Cuba’s Foreign Minister intervened on several points of order to call for decorum.
What the Cuban regime “does not want you to hear”, he continued, is that five years ago, thousands of Cuban people filled the streets and demanded their freedom, hungry and tired of living through years of blackouts. “Communism has never worked. It doesn’t work, and it will not work,” he said. He read the names of Cuban political prisoners including those jailed for artistic expression, stressing that “they are not violent”. They make music and poetry.
If there is an embargo on Cuba, why is the United States providing more than $100 million in aid a year, he asked, posing the question to audible objections by Cuba’s delegation: “If there is no fuel for hospitals, how is there fuel for the Castro family’s private jet?”
He drew attention to the “Cuban military’s secret conglomerate” that runs “about half” of the Cuban economy, and the “Cuban regime’s modern day slave trade” that sends doctors abroad but takes their wages and threatens their families if they disobey. Thousands of Cubans are also being forced to fight in Ukraine, with their wages going straight to the Castro family pockets. “The Cuban regime is trying to whitewash their crimes at the cost of $28,000 an hour here in this hall,” he said.
Speakers Stand against Embargo, Growing Extraterritorial Ambitions
In the ensuing discussion, speakers broadly denounced Washington, D.C.’s, economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba, with many warning that recent oil import restrictions and secondary sanctions had further aggravated an already alarming situation on the island.
“The direct and indirect damage is enormous,” said Uruguay’s representative, on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, citing serious harm to Cuba’s agriculture, healthcare, trade and investment, tourism and banking sectors. She urged the United States to remove Cuba from its list of State sponsors of terrorism, noting that the Group of 77 “knows nothing about [this]”.
Uganda’s delegate, speaking on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, said such moves only “multiply the extraterritorial effects of the blockade” and adversely affect not only the Cuban people, but third States and international economic partners.
Regional Voices Decry Collective Punishment, Call for Dialogue
Regional voices also appealed for normalization and relief, with Haiti’s representative, on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), stressing that civilian needs must remain the utmost priority. The General Assembly has demonstrated support for the Cuban people for many years, making it regrettable that the situation continues. “CARICOM is a long-standing friend of Cuba and the United States and continues to call for the normalization of these two countries in the interest of the entire region,” he declared.
“Our call is clear, and it is borne of the norm that sovereignty, self-determination and independence are inalienable principles,” said Venezuela’s delegate. The blockade is a major obstacle to Cuba’s sustainable development, particularly access to healthcare and food. “These practices constitute collective punishment,” she stressed.
Echoing that point, Mali’s representative, on behalf of the African Group, declared: “No difference between two States can justify the collective punishment of an entire people — still less any measure that places the lives and well-being of its population in jeopardy.”
Blockade Violates UN Charter, International Law
Others framed the issue through the principles of the United Nations Charter. Eritrea’s delegate, on behalf of the Group of Friends in Defence of the UN Charter, affirmed that “every day the blockade continues to exist represents a shame on the moral authority of this Organization”. Since the Assembly last met on the matter in October 2025, he said, the “unjust and abusive blockade” had been severely tightened, with grave humanitarian consequences for the Cuban people.
Singapore’s representative, speaking on behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), expressed the bloc’s “long-standing support” for the annual resolution on ending the embargo, which reflects “our shared commitment” to the UN Charter principles of sovereign equality, non-interference, non-intervention and the peaceful settlement of disputes.
Türkiye’s representative, speaking on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, expressed regret that, despite the “overwhelming message” repeatedly sent by the Assembly year after year, additional measures were being contemplated with a view to tightening the economic and military measures against Cuba and its people. He urged that no additional measures be introduced.
Moscow, Beijing Reject Coercion, Interference
Vladimir Kolokoltsev, Minister for Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, described the United States blockade of Cuba as “a striking example of illegitimate unilateral measures of intimidation and punishment against Governments deemed undesirable”. The international community had consistently answered that policy with a firm “no”, he said, recalling the Assembly resolutions adopted since 1992 and supported by overwhelming majorities of Member States.
He expressed regret that efforts to convene today’s meeting had faced strong opposition and alleged that pressure had been exerted on foreign partners to discourage support for Havana’s initiative. The blockade was one of the methods used to establish control over the territory and revive the Monroe Doctrine.
China’s representative placed the issue in the context of sovereign equality and opposition to interference in internal affairs. “Any military adventurism will only push the region towards a precipice of uncertainty,” he warned. “No single country can act as the international police, nor can any country make itself out to be the international judge,” he added.
Cuba’s Ukraine Position ‘Inconsistent’ with UN Charter, European Union Says
The European Union, in its capacity as observer, acknowledged the adverse humanitarian impact of the long-standing blockade, but stressed that “the dire situation of the Cuban people is not only due to the embargo”. Cuba’s position on the Russian Federation’s illegal war against Ukraine “has not been consistent with the principles of the UN Charter”, he said, urging Havana to refrain from providing any support for Moscow’s aggression.