Cuba’s diplomatic victory at the United Nations
On July 7, at the request of the Republic of Cuba, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) convened an urgent debate on the need to end the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the government of the United States against the Caribbean island.
The debate took place against the backdrop of a tightening of the blockade since the beginning of this year, including an energy siege, and amid the persistent threat of US military intervention against Cuba.
The debate was the target of attempts by the government of the United States to obstruct it through every possible means, as denounced by Cuba’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, during a press conference held on June 30, 2026.
During that appearance, the Cuban foreign minister stated that, in the weeks leading up to July 7, the government of the United States had mounted an intense diplomatic campaign through its Permanent Mission in New York and its embassies around the world to prevent the debate from taking place. According to the Minister, the United States resorted to pressure, threats, coercion and procedural maneuvers aimed at intimidating member states and restricting their right to debate and express their views on a matter of international concern.
He also revealed that documents had been circulated during meetings with governments and diplomats to justify these actions and to promote a campaign against Cuba. According to the Minister, these materials sought to discredit Cuba, threaten States, companies and institutions with the extraterritorial application of sanctions, and exert pressure on the positions of member states ahead of the debate scheduled for 7 July.
Despite these pressures, the misinformation advanced by U.S. representatives around the world, and the opposition of the U.S. delegation in the General Assembly, the debate was ultimately held. Because of the United States’ objection, member states were required to vote on whether the debate should proceed. Cuba secured an overwhelming victory, with 136 member states voting in favor of holding the debate, reflecting the international community’s unequivocal support for addressing this issue in the United Nations’ principal deliberative body, while only nine countries voted against.
The General Assembly’s decision carries particular political and legal significance, as it comes at a time of intensified unilateral coercive measures against Cuba and amid concerted efforts to prevent the debate from taking place. Nevertheless, the overwhelming majority of member states defended the Assembly’s right to examine an issue that, for more than three decades, has commanded broad international consensus in support of respect for international law and for the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations.
In his address to the General Assembly, Cuba’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, denounced the profound human, economic and social consequences of the blockade and the additional measures adopted by the U.S. government against Cuba. The Minister stated that these actions have intensified the challenges facing the country, particularly in the energy sector, and directly affect the well-being of the Cuban people by restricting access to financial resources, fuel, food, medicines, technology and other essential supplies.
The Minister reported that the economic damage caused by the blockade between March 2025 and February 2026 amounted to US$8.083 billion, bringing the cumulative losses to US$178.7 billion, calculated on the basis of the value of the U.S. dollar against gold. These figures underscore the enormous cost of a policy that continues to hinder the country’s development prospects.
Statement by Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cuba, at the United Nations General Assembly Debate:
These are the economic and material losses, but no one can measure the psychological and emotional suffering of a mother desperate because she has no electricity to prepare food for her young child; or of families waiting for urgent surgery that cannot be performed because operating rooms are without electricity; or of elderly people who endure the daily hardship of medicine shortages. Those wounds can never be fully repaired, and the government of the United States, through its policy of economic suffocation, bears responsibility for this crime.
The debate featured numerous interventions by States, international movements, political coordination mechanisms and regional groups, including the Non-Aligned Movement, the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Group of 77 and China, and the African Group, among others. Their representatives reiterated their opposition to the application of unilateral coercive measures in violation of international law and expressed their solidarity with the Cuban people. Several delegations also called for Cuba’s removal from the unilateral U.S. list of countries allegedly sponsoring terrorism, arguing that the designation is unfounded and further exacerbates the financial and commercial restrictions facing the country.
“CARICOM has taken note of the current situation of Cuba and are extremely concerned on the worsening of the social and economic conditions.” (Haiti on behalf of CARICOM)
The outcome of the vote and the arguments put forward by the participating delegations once again confirmed the broad international isolation of U.S. policy toward Cuba in contrast to the prevailing consensus within the international community. The approval of the debate reflects the overwhelming will of member states to uphold multilateralism, defend the sovereign equality of States, and promote the peaceful settlement of disputes through dialogue and respect for international law.
“Cuba has continued to make important contributions in several sectors. Its expertise and efforts in healthcare enable it to respond effectively to the COVID-19 pandemic, not only domestically but also internationally.” (India)
From a legal perspective, the debate reaffirmed the enduring validity of fundamental principles of the contemporary international order. The Charter of the United Nations establishes the sovereign equality of States and prohibits the imposition of unilateral coercive measures that undermine the political or economic independence of other countries. In this regard, numerous delegations emphasized that the extraterritorial application of U.S. legislation affects not only Cuba but also third States, companies and financial institutions, disrupting the normal conduct of international economic and commercial relations.
“Since the beginning of this year, the United States has doubled down and further escalated its (…) blockade and threats against Cuba. It has adopted maximum measures in the energy, financial and trade sectors.” (China)
The interventions also underscored the principles of non-interference in the internal affairs of States and the right of peoples to self-determination. Both are cornerstones of international law and guarantee that every nation may freely determine its political, economic and social system without external pressure or measures designed to bring about change through economic coercion.
In this context, the blockade continues to be regarded by an overwhelming majority of member states as an obstacle to Cuba’s sustainable development and to the full enjoyment of the economic and social rights of its people. Its impact extends beyond the bilateral sphere and poses a challenge to the strengthening of the multilateral system and to compliance with the rules governing international relations.
“ASEAN reiterates its call on the United States to lift its unilateral economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba as soon as possible, and to remove Cuba from the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism.” (Singapore on behalf of ASEAN)
In exercising his right of reply, Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla forcefully refuted the false claims made by the representative of the United States, demonstrating the existence of the blockade imposed by that country against the Cuban people and the impact of the recent executive orders issued by the president of the United States, particularly those related to the energy siege.
At the close of the session, the President of the Republic of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-CanelBermúdez, expressed his gratitude for the support of the 136 States that made the debate possible and reaffirmed Cuba’s determination to continue defending its independence, sovereignty and the right of its people to freely pursue their own development model, in strict accordance with the principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations.
Less than one week after the debate at the United Nations, the government of the United States published a new list of sanctions as part of its continued effort to strangle Cuba’s economy and intensify its aggression against the Cuban people.
(Juan Carlos Marcof Sánchez, Cuban ambassador to The Bahamas)
(EmbaCuba Bahamas)