130 nations condemn US Cuba embargo in UN vote

The economic isolation of Cuba remains a central point of contention in New York, where the United Nations General Assembly voted on Wednesday to condemn the US embargo for another year. The resolution passed with 130 votes in favor, while 17 nations opposed the measure. The vote reflects a long-standing dispute that has shaped policy between the two countries for over sixty years.

The outcome differed from previous years in the number of nations that chose not to take a side. Twenty-five countries abstained from the vote, a group that included major economies like Germany and Italy. These nations had previously supported the resolution condemning the embargo. US officials pointed to this change as evidence of their recent diplomatic efforts to reduce the isolation of Havana.

Mike Waltz, the US Ambassador to the United Nations, addressed reporters after the session to discuss the shifting alignment. He noted that major economies such as Korea and Germany had moved their positions. Waltz stated that diplomacy takes time, but he expected the trend of countries shifting to abstention to continue. He described the tripling of abstentions as a positive development for US interests.

Cuban officials maintained that the US remains alone in its stance despite the lobbying efforts. Bruno Rodriguez, the Cuban Foreign Minister, posted on social media after the vote to respond to the result. He argued that the US was isolated in its attempt to strangle the Cuban people. Rodriguez claimed that US pressure and media tactics would not overcome the facts on the ground.

The vote occurred against a backdrop of heightened tension between the two delegations. On Tuesday, during a General Assembly debate, US and Cuban officials engaged in a loud exchange. The confrontation escalated into an apparent physical struggle. Waltz announced on Wednesday that Richard Tur de la Concepcion, a first secretary at Cuba’s UN mission, would be expelled from the country for assaulting an American diplomat. The US and Cuban missions had not responded to requests for comment by press time.