U.N. votes 130-17 to condemn U.S. Cuba embargo despite shift in Western support
Germany, Italy, and Latvia abstained for the first time in 34 years, while Cuba faces deepening financial strain under increased U.S. pressure.
By Vikram Harrison ·
Support for the U.N. General Assembly resolution condemning the U.S. embargo on Cuba dropped sharply in a Wednesday vote.
The assembly passed the measure 130 to 17, with 25 nations abstaining. This represents a decrease from the previous year, when more than 160 nations supported the resolution and only 12 abstained. Although the vote is not legally binding, it serves as a measure of global opinion on the trade restrictions.
Western nations including Germany, Italy, and Latvia abstained for the first time in the 34-year history of the annual vote. Bosnia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Lithuania, Morocco, North Macedonia, Paraguay, and Slovenia also voted against the resolution, marking a departure from their previous positions for most of these states.
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez addressed the assembly before the vote, describing the economic restrictions as an attack by a major power. He stated, “A great power is attacking through economic war a member state of this organization. Cuba is not a threat. The blockade is a threat.”
U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz argued that the vote served the interests of the Cuban government rather than its people. He told member nations, “your vote today is the only thing standing between the corrupt, kleptocratic communist regime and using this body and your vote for another propaganda victory at the expense of the Cuban people.”
Tensions between the two delegations escalated on Tuesday when Waltz and Rodríguez engaged in a shouting match on the assembly floor. Rodríguez approached the podium where Waltz was speaking, calling him a liar. Waltz responded, “This individual needs to back away from this podium. He’s not going to intimidate me in the United States of America. You understand who you’re dealing with? This is America. Back up.”
Following the verbal exchange, Waltz accused a member of Cuba’s delegation of attacking a U.S. diplomat filming him. He said Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered the official sent home, a move the State Department confirmed to the Associated Press on Wednesday.
President Donald Trump raised the possibility of U.S. military intervention last week, suggesting American warships might stop in Cuba on their return from the Iran war. The administration imposed tariffs in late January on nations selling oil to Cuba, a move that has cut off fuel supplies and caused widespread power outages affecting water and internet services on the island.
