Geneva, 1 June 2026. – In the framework of the organizational meeting of the 62nd regular session of the Human Rights Council, Cuba warned of the growing threat of military aggression by the United States government, which would constitute a flagrant violation of the UN Charter, International Law and the human rights of the Cuban people.
"The absurd argument is used to present our small island as a supposed threat to the national security of the nuclear superpower. Such an idea defies logic and common sense. Cuba is not and cannot be a threat to the United States," said the Cuban representative, who stressed that Cuba is a nation of peace.
The intervention denounced that the U.S. government causes severe damage to Cuban families with an economic blockade intensified to the extreme, and stressed that the total fuel blockade imposed for five months is equivalent, due to its effects, to a naval blockade, which is an act of war. "It is a plan to provoke a humanitarian crisis," he said.
The Cuban people suffer from prolonged power cuts, difficulties in the supply of water, transportation, community services and serious effects on health and education. "It is cynical to allege that this crisis results from the alleged incompetence of the Cuban government. The United States places a noose around Cuba's neck, tightens and, at the same time, accuses the island of not being able to breathe," he denounced.
Cuba called on all peace-loving nations and defenders of just causes to prevent an aggression that would have unpredictable consequences. "If a military aggression occurs, rest assured that the Cuban people will fight, until the last consequences, to defend their sovereignty and independence," he warned.
Finally, he announced that Cuba will present two draft resolutions at this session, on "Human Rights and International Solidarity" and the convening of the "Social Forum 2027", and invited to the side event on June 19 for the tenth anniversary of the Declaration on the Right to Peace.
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Remarks by Ambassador Rodolfo Benítez Verson, Permanent Representative of Cuba, at the organizational meeting of the 62nd regular session of the Human Rights Council
Mr. President,
The 62nd session of the Human Rights Council will take place in a context of growing threat of military aggression against Cuba by the United States government.
In addition to violating the UN Charter and international law, an aggression would constitute a flagrant violation of the human rights of our people.
It would deny the right to life of thousands of Cubans who would die defending their homeland. Young Americans would also perish, dragged into violence by a policy of domination and conquest.
The absurd argument is used to present our small island as a supposed threat to the national security of the nuclear superpower. Such an idea defies logic and common sense.
Cuba is not and cannot be a threat to the United States. They lie to justify a new irrational war.
Our country is not an enemy of the United States either, nor does it want to be, despite significant differences with its government. Cuba is a nation of peace.
It is the government of the United States that causes severe damage to Cuban families with an economic blockade that has been intensified to the extreme, with additional measures that are increasingly aggressive and ruthless, and a brutal energy siege.
The total fuel blockade that the United States has imposed on Cuba for 5 months is equivalent in its effects to a naval blockade, which is an act of war. The consequences are devastating. It is a plan to provoke a humanitarian crisis.
Our people suffer from prolonged power cuts on a daily basis, difficulties in the supply of water, transportation, communal services, gas supply, the production and distribution of food, goods and services. The health system and education, among many other sectors, are seriously affected.
It is cynical to argue that this crisis results from the alleged incompetence of the Cuban government or from evils intrinsic to our economic model. The United States places a noose around Cuba's neck, tightens and, at the same time, accuses the island of not being able to breathe.
Subjecting millions of people to inhumane coercive acts, creating shortages, deprivation and extreme hardship for political purposes, is not acceptable under any circumstances and deserves the condemnation of all.
Numerous mandate-holders of the Human Rights Council have denounced that the actions of the United States against Cuba are illegal, unjustified and violate the human rights of the Cuban people.
As High Commissioner Volker Turk has emphasised about this situation: "Nothing can justify the suffocation of an entire population".
The Council must act in the face of these facts, which violate international human rights law. This body cannot passively contemplate that an entire people is deprived of its forms of livelihood, that an entire population continues to be punished for reasons of domination and that a country is threatened militarily without any justification.
We call on all peace-loving nations and defenders of just causes to prevent an aggression against Cuba, which would have unpredictable consequences.
We call on the international community to mobilize to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe from being imposed on the Cuban people, whether by means of arms or by means of a fuel blockade, which also kills.
We know that Cuba is not alone. On behalf of the Cuban people and government, I extend our deep gratitude to all those who have expressed their solidarity and support at the present time, when great dangers loom over the Cuban nation.
Cuba does not want a conflict and will continue to bet on sanity, dialogue and peace to prevail. But if a military aggression occurs, if the war that we do not want is imposed on us, rest assured that the Cuban people will fight, to the last consequences, to defend their sovereignty and independence.
Mr. President,
At the 62nd session, Cuba will submit two draft resolutions. The text on "Human Rights and International Solidarity" will focus on the renewal of this important mandate. The second project will be aimed at convening the "Social Forum" corresponding to 2027.
I conclude by announcing that Cuba will organize, on June 19, a side event on the implementation of the Declaration on the Right to Peace, which this year celebrates its tenth anniversary, after its approval in 2016 by the UN Council and General Assembly. We invite all delegations to participate.
Thank you very much.
(Cubaminrex-Cuba Geneva Mission)