Statement by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, at the UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration on the Right to Development. New York, September 23, 2026
Mr. President,
The 1986 Declaration on the Right to Development gave rise to hope.
Forty years later, that promise remains unfulfilled. The current international economic order—unjust by design—perpetuates the dependency and exploitation of developing countries through a predatory financial architecture and the proliferation of unilateral coercive measures.
The United States' economic blockade against Cuba remains in force and has been reinforced to an unprecedented degree. The United States imposes a criminal energy blockade on Cuba aimed at inflicting extraordinary humanitarian harm. It obstructs trade relations between our country and any other through intimidation and coercion, so-called secondary sanctions, and direct pressure on governments and international actors.
A critical situation is taking shape: an international order in which the U.S. government seeks to decide with whom others may trade, what cooperation they may maintain, and whether or not fuel may reach a blockaded island.
It is based on sanctions, fear, and forced obedience through the imposition of unilateral U.S. interests. This order is unsustainable, unjust, and dangerous for all peoples. Today it is applied against Cuba; tomorrow it could be applied against any other State.
The U.S. government will not succeed in breaking the will of the Cuban people, nor in forcing Cuba to renounce its right to self-determination.
Together with the Non-Aligned Movement, we will continue to advocate for a world where development is not the privilege of a few, but a right within everyone's reach.
Thank you very much.