In brief
On October 29, the UN General Assembly voted to adopt a resolution condemning the U.S. embargo on Cuba for the 34th straight year. The resolution, backed by 130 countries, called for the repeal of extraterritorial sanctions such as the 1996 Helms‑Burton Act. The vote followed a heated debate in which U.S. and Cuban delegations physically confronted each other.
The United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, October 29, adopted a resolution condemning the United States’ long‑standing embargo against Cuba, marking the 34th consecutive year the body has called for the blockade’s end. The vote passed with 130 member states in favor, 17 against and 25 abstentions, demanding that all states repeal extraterritorial sanctions affecting Cuba and urging those that continue to apply them to do so immediately.
The resolution specifically criticized the 1996 Helms‑Burton Act, noting that its extraterritorial effects threaten other states’ sovereignty, the legitimate interests of entities under their jurisdiction, and the freedom of trade and navigation. It condemns the continued promulgation and application of such laws, calling on all states to refrain from promulgating and applying them and to repeal them as soon as possible.
During the two‑day debate that preceded the vote, the United Nations Assembly Hall witnessed a rare physical confrontation between the U.S. and Cuban delegations. Mike Waltz, the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, began a speech on Tuesday and showed photos he claimed proved corruption in Cuba. In response, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez and his delegation walked toward the podium to protest. Rodriguez called Waltz a liar; Waltz demanded the Cubans back off. The Assembly president briefly suspended the debate before resuming proceedings. The heated exchange led to the Assembly president’s decision to temporarily halt the debate, underscoring the tension between the countries at the UN meeting.
Speakers from various countries also weighed in on the USA’s policy. The Singaporean representative, speaking for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, warned of the “troubling picture of the worsening socio‑economic situation in Cuba,” noting shortages of essential medicines and a decline in food production. Eritrea’s representative spoke on behalf of his country, underscoring the broader humanitarian impacts of the embargo.
Opposition to the embargo was voiced by the majority of UN member states, who framed the U.S. policy as a violation of international law and an instrument of economic injustice that inflicts hardship on the Cuban population. The resolution’s adoption marks the fourth consecutive decade during which the General Assembly has passed a resolution demanding an end to the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States on Cuba.
