UN General Assembly reaffirms call for US to end Cuba embargo in overwhelming vote

The United Nations General Assembly has overwhelmingly reaffirmed its call for the United States to lift its long-standing economic, commercial, and financial embargo on Cuba, marking the 32nd time the international body has adopted such a resolution.

In a vote on Wednesday, 187 of the 193 member nations endorsed the resolution, while only two countries— the United States and Israel—opposed it. Republic of Moldova abstained from voting, marking a strong global consensus in favour of Cuba’s position.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Eduardo Rodriguez Parrilla, speaking before the vote, passionately called on member states to support the resolution, arguing that the embargo constitutes an unjust interference in Cuba’s sovereignty and infringes on the right of the Cuban people to self-determination.

“Let Cuba live; let Cuba live in peace,” Rodriguez emphasised, characterising the embargo as “a flagrant, massive, and systematic violation of human rights.”

Rodriguez described the ongoing embargo, which has been in effect for over 60 years, as “commercial warfare” and condemned the continued US stance, labelling it a “crime of genocide.”

He also shared the extensive damage the embargo has caused to Cuba’s economy, including the recent challenges it posed to the nation’s energy grid.

Rodriguez recounted that from 18 to 23 October, many Cuban households faced electricity shortages, affecting water supplies, hospital operations, and educational facilities. He noted that recent US measures have obstructed fuel and parts for power infrastructure, worsening conditions for citizens.

Rodriguez further detailed the economic toll of the embargo, noting that Cuba has faced a cumulative loss of approximately US$1.499 trillion when adjusted for inflation. The embargo has cost Cuba $252 billion over the past 18 years alone.

These losses have had direct consequences, he said, for public services such as healthcare, where shortages and interruptions of essential goods like insulin and medical supplies are increasingly common.

The non-binding resolution, entitled “Necessity of Ending the Economic, Commercial and Financial Embargo Imposed by the United States of America Against Cuba” (document A/79/L.6), also included a clause urging other states supporting the embargo to repeal or invalidate relevant laws to facilitate Cuba’s access to international trade.

While most countries voted in favour of the resolution, the United States representative stood by the embargo, arguing that sanctions are a part of broader US efforts to advance democracy and protect human rights in Cuba.

The US official noted that nearly 1,000 political prisoners are currently detained in Cuba, with around 700 held in connection to the July 2021 protests. According to the US, these prisoners face severe conditions for exercising freedoms of expression and assembly, and Cuba has not responded adequately to numerous inquiries into its human rights practices, some pending for over a decade.

Representatives from various nations voiced strong support for lifting the embargo.

Bolivia’s delegate condemned the sanctions, stating that the annual resolutions demonstrate how certain nations disregard international consensus. The Cuban struggle, she asserted, “is also one of Latin America and the Caribbean, and it is a struggle of all the peoples of the world.”

Iran’s representative echoed this sentiment, calling the embargo a form of “economic terrorism” and equating it with a military blockade, in direct violation of international law.

European Union representative Hungary, speaking on behalf of the EU, noted that the EU favours ending the embargo, which it views as a measure that impedes effective economic reform in Cuba.

The EU has historically opposed the embargo and continues to look for cooperative ways to foster economic and human rights advancements in Cuba. Timor-Leste’s representative highlighted Cuba’s humanitarian contributions globally, especially its aid to his nation, and urged the international community to promote a collaborative approach to resolve the ongoing impasse.

The US embargo on Cuba, in place since 1960, was initially imposed in response to Cuba’s nationalisation of American-owned properties following the Cuban Revolution.

The sanctions have since been expanded, although limited exceptions exist for food and medical goods. While former President Barack Obama took steps to ease the embargo in 2015, including the restoration of diplomatic relations, subsequent US administrations have maintained a firm stance against Cuba.

The General Assembly’s resolutions, while non-binding, represent a powerful expression of global opposition to the embargo.