New York, December 15, 2025 — The Chargé d'affaires, a.i. of the Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations, Ambassador Yuri Ariel Gala López, spoke today at the Security Council's open debate, "Maintenance of international peace and security: Leadership for peace.", where he reaffirmed Cuba's commitment to defending peace based on respect for sovereignty, self-determination, peaceful settlement of disputes, and non-interference in internal affairs of States.
The Cuban diplomat also resolutely condemned the United States government's threats and use of force against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. This includes the extraordinary and offensive military deployment in the Caribbean Sea under the false pretext of fighting drugs, persistent interference in Venezuela's airspace, and psychological warfare campaigns, among other actions. All these actions, including unilateral coercive measures, economic suffocation, and smear campaigns against Venezuela, constitute flagrant violations of the UN Charter and international law. We stand in solidarity with its people and government.
He also denounced the assault of an oil tanker by US military forces on December 10 in international waters. This is an act of piracy and maritime terrorism that seriously violates international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation.
Ambassador Gala López stated that these actions are part of the United States' efforts to prevent Venezuela from freely using and trading its natural resources with other nations, including hydrocarbon supplies to Cuba. He added that these actions negatively impact Cuba and intensify the United States' policy of maximum pressure and economic suffocation. This policy directly impacts the national energy system and consequently affects Cubans’ daily lives.
He also said that this clear implementation of the Trump Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine violates the Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace and demands universal condemnation.
The Cuban diplomat recalled that since its founding, the UN has been underpinned by the principles and objectives of its charter, international law, and an unwavering dedication to peace, security, and human dignity. However, he noted that we currently face a complex and challenging global scenario marked by the continued violation of these principles.
He emphasized that discussing leadership for peace today inevitably forces us to consider Palestine, and condemned Israel's genocide against the Palestinian people with the complicity and impunity of the U.S. government.
He also noted that the new U.S. National Security Strategy, which includes the notion of enforcing the idea that the Western Hemisphere is its exclusive zone of influence and validates the dangerous doctrine of “peace through strength”, reflects in itself the enormous challenges facing humanity, particularly the Latin American and Caribbean region.
He also pointed out that the new U.S. National Security Strategy, which enforces the idea that the Western Hemisphere is its exclusive zone of influence and validates the dangerous doctrine of "peace through strength," reflects the enormous challenges facing humanity, particularly the Latin American and Caribbean regions.
Ambassador Gala López emphasized that leadership for peace cannot be exercised through imposition, coercion, or the threat or use of force. Rather, it must be based on dialogue, understanding, international cooperation, and strict respect for the United Nations Charter and international law. "There can be no talk of leadership for peace while unilateral coercive measures continue to be used as weapons of political pressure against sovereign states, as is the case with the intensified economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by the United States on our country", he said.
Finally, he reaffirmed that Cuba believes this leadership for peace must be exercised by the United Nations, with the General Assembly playing a central role.
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations.