New York, May 15, 2026 — Cuba denounced in a special meeting of the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC) that disruptions in energy and supply flows continue to deepen the inequalities and vulnerabilities of the current international economic order, with severe impact on developing countries.
In his speech, Cuba’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Ernesto Soberón Guzmán, said that the soaring price of energy, logistical interruptions, and financial restrictions directly affect industrial production, transportation, food security, and the provision of basic services, triggering increased levels of debt, inflation, and decline in purchasing power.
The Cuban diplomat highlighted that, in the case of Cuba, these disruptions are exacerbated by the economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by the United States government and the tightened energy siege, aimed at preventing the country’s access to fuels, finances, technologies, and essential supplies. He also denounced the persecution against banks, shipping companies, insurance companies, and international suppliers, as well as the threat to impose tariffs on fuel suppliers.
Ambassador Soberón Guzmán warned that the unilateral coercive measures applied against Cuba have caused serious consequences for the population, including the accumulation of more than 96,000 pending surgeries — of which 11,000 are children — due to disruptions in fuel supplies. He reiterated that there is no political, legal, moral, or ethical justification for these kinds of hostile actions.
Likewise, he reaffirmed Cuba’s commitment to the protection of the population and the preservation of essential services, while the country continues to promote the development of renewable energy sources, energy efficiency, and food sovereignty as strategic pillars of resilience.
Finally, Cuba reiterated the need to strengthen international cooperation and multilateralism, as well as to guarantee equitable and nondiscriminatory access to financing for countries affected by the external crisis and supply disruptions. The Cuban representative delved into the role the UN should play in supporting developing countries through effective mechanisms of technical assistance, financing, and response to energy emergencies.
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations.