UN General Assembly set for 35th vote on US Cuba embargo

The United Nations General Assembly is scheduled to vote on Wednesday regarding a resolution that condemns the United States economic embargo on Cuba. This marks the 35th consecutive year the measure has been brought before the 193 member states for a formal vote.

The resolution has historically received near-universal support. In the most recent tally from last year, 165 nations voted in favor of the text, while seven voted against and 12 abstained. Although the current vote is not legally binding, it serves as a formal record of international opinion on the decades-old trade restrictions.

Tensions between Washington and Havana have escalated in the weeks leading up to the session. President Donald Trump recently suggested that U.S. warships could stop in Cuban waters on their return from operations in Iran. This statement came as Cuba faces deepening financial difficulties and a tightened economic campaign from the U.S. government.

The diplomatic friction became visible on the floor of the General Assembly on Tuesday. U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz and Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez engaged in a loud exchange while debating the merits of the embargo resolution.

Rodríguez approached the podium while Waltz was speaking. The Cuban minister attempted to call for a point of order and described the U.S. envoy as a liar. Waltz responded by telling Rodríguez to back away from the podium, stating that the Cuban minister was not going to intimidate him in the United States of America. U.N. security personnel intervened as Waltz told Rodríguez to back up, emphasizing that this was America.

Following the incident, Rodríguez took to social media to clarify the setting of the dispute. He noted that Waltz was speaking at the United Nations, not at a national security meeting at the White House. Rodríguez characterized the U.S. remarks as crude lies intended to justify economic aggression and a criminal energy blockade against the island.

A similar confrontation occurred a week earlier outside a U.S.-hosted panel. Waltz and his Cuban counterpart, Ernesto Soberón Guzmán, interacted during a session featuring Cuban dissidents and former prisoners. The event was designed to highlight allegations regarding the conduct of the Cuban government. These public displays mark a departure from traditional diplomatic decorum at the U.N.

The embargo was originally imposed in 1960 following the revolution led by Fidel Castro, which ousted dictator Fulgencio Batista. The new government nationalized properties owned by U.S. citizens and corporations. Since then, Cuba has faced prolonged economic and financial challenges.

In late January, President Trump announced tariffs on any country selling or providing oil to Cuba. This move has effectively restricted fuel supplies to the island. The shortage has led to widespread power outages that disrupt cooking, water supply, and internet and telephone services for many residents.

The upcoming vote will determine if the margin of support shifts in response to the Trump administration's efforts to influence the outcome. Analysts are watching to see if key Western allies will move from abstention to opposition, a change that would mark a shift in the long-standing diplomatic consensus.