United Nations, New York, 1 October, 2026. – Cuba’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Ernesto Soberón Guzmán spoke at the Fourth Commission of the General Assembly, during the debate on Elimination of Colonialism in all its Forms and Manifestations, where he reaffirmed Cuba’s commitment to decolonization and all people’s right to free determination and independence.
Soberón Guzmán said, that more than six decades after the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples was adopted, colonialism remains a reality incompatible with the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter. He emphasized that this form of domination hinders the economic and social development of peoples and undermines their identity and sovereignty.
The Cuban diplomat also warned of the persistence of contemporary practices of domination through the exploitation of natural resources, the extraterritorial application of national laws, and the use of unilateral coercive measures. In that context, he denounced the economic blockade and energy siege imposed by the United States against Cuba, as well as other measures aimed at adding more pressure on the Cuban people and undermining the country’s sovereignty and independence.
During his remarks, the Permanent Representative reiterated Cuba’s solidarity with the peoples of Puerto Rico, Palestine, and Western Sahara, and reaffirmed their right to self-determination. He also emphasized the importance of keeping decolonization as a priority on the United Nations agenda and of strengthening the work of the Special Committee on Decolonization.
Soberón Guzmán also commended the designation of December 14 as the International Day Against Colonialism in All Its Forms and Manifestations, noting its contribution to raising international awareness of the historical legacies of colonialism and highlighting the United Nations’ efforts to eradicate it.
In closing, the Cuban ambassador called for increased collective efforts to put a definitive end to colonialism and its contemporary manifestations. He reaffirmed that Cuba will continue to defend, through multilateralism, the sovereignty, independence, and right of all peoples to freely determine their future.
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations.