New York, August 19, 2026. - Cuba called for a comprehensive and thorough reform of the Security Council, including its working methods, to move towards a more transparent, democratic and representative organ that responds to the historic demands of the countries of the South.
During the open debate of the Security Council on its working methods, the Permanent Representative of Cuba to the United Nations, Ambassador Ernesto Soberón Guzmán, reiterated the need to expand membership in both categories and eliminate the undemocratic power of veto which impedes essential decision-making and weakens the credibility of the organ .
The Cuban diplomat questioned the persistence of closed formats, insufficient consideration of non-member states' concerns and decision-making when substantive differences still exist. It also denounced the provisionality of the regulation since the creation of the Council and the selective manipulation of its methods and practices for the benefit of political agendas and domination.
Soberón Guzmán warned that the US is undermining the role of the Security Council through aggression, threats of force, interference in other states' internal affairs and imposition of unilateral coercive measures. In this context, he denounced the unprecedented intensification of the economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba and the brutal energy blockade imposed for more than six months, whose effects he described as equivalent to those of a naval blockade.
He also warned about the repeated public threats of direct military aggression against Cuba by senior U.S. officials and their potential consequences for peace, security and stability in the hemisphere and internationally. In this situation, he called on the Security Council to act with strict adherence to its mandate and primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security.
The Permanent Representative reaffirmed that Cuba continues to rely on peace and dialogue, with adherence to international law and mutual respect, while firmly defending its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. He renewed the call to sovereign and independent nations, including members of the Security Council, to act with determination in defense of Cuba’s right to peace.