Madam Vice President:
A dictatorship has emerged in the globalized world. The order born from World War II to prevent a third is being destroyed. Its foundations—International Law, the United Nations, and the organizations of the international system—are under attack, and the “philosophy of plunder” is proclaimed as the exceptional and supreme right of the United States of America to conquest and use force as an inherent, natural, and everyday way of being.
To the nuclear threat and inexorable climate change is added the behavior of a predatory, insatiable, aggressive, and irresponsible superpower that confronts the decline of its hegemony with the power of military, technological, economic, and cognitive violence.
Beyond ideologies, all nation-states are in danger, regardless of their cultural or political models. Venezuela, home to the world's largest hydrocarbon reserves, was vilely attacked. What will happen to critical mineral and rare earth deposits, water reserves, the Amazon, the seabed, the Arctic and Antarctic, the occupation of supposedly strategic enclaves, interoceanic passages, and trade routes? There is abundant evidence that permissiveness, weakness, cowardice, and selfish opportunism only encourage conquest.
What will happen to data control, algorithmic manipulation, intangibles, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence if the philosophy of war, the arms race, and cognitive warfare prevail?
What would freedom of trade and navigation look like with the use of tariffs as an instrument of aggression and with the extraterritorial application of US laws and the jurisdiction of US courts?
Cuba has historically been a dramatic crossroads. The Executive Order of January 29th issued by the President of the United States, which declares collective punishment against the Cuban people and aims to create a humanitarian catastrophe through an energy blockade, places the symbolic and mystical island at the center of the global dilemma.
Can a great power be allowed to destroy a small, peaceful nation, provoke a humanitarian tragedy, shatter its national culture, and subject a noble and compassionate people to genocide, under the flimsy pretext of national security or the supposed and hypocritical "support for Cuban citizens," with the aim of changing a government or political system, burying a development model alternative to unfettered capitalism, exacting historical revenge, and intimidating Our America?
The Cuban people will defend with the utmost vigor and courage, in close unity and broad consensus, their right to self-determination, independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and constitutional order. We will do so with the support of Cubans residing in other parts of the world.
We will prevent a humanitarian crisis in Cuba. It will not happen, even though we will endure hardship and suffering. We will draw strength from our culture and history, our patriotic tradition, our experience, our will, and our fortitude. We are a conscious, educated, and courageous people, with highly qualified human resources, powerful and universal education, health, and science systems; we have arable land, water, mineral reserves, infrastructure, we produce almost half of the crude oil we consume, we have refining capacity, and we are making significant and efficient investment in solar energy.
Through suffering and hardship, three generations of Cubans have overcome the US blockade for over 60 years and built a renowned humanitarian and social legacy. We have shown solidarity with all, especially with the nations of the Global South.
A broad international solidarity movement with Cuba is already taking shape and is being recognized.
Even in the worst-case scenario, we will persevere and find creative solutions. Faced with all difficulties, we will mitigate the humanitarian damage, protect children and the elderly, and those most in need. We will show solidarity.
As always, we will also be open to serious and responsible dialogue with the United States, based on sovereign equality and international law, mutual respect, and reciprocal benefit, without preconditions or interference in internal affairs. This dialogue aims to achieve a civilized relationship, despite our differences, and even promote cooperation in areas where possible.
Mr. President:
Our commitment to defending and promoting all human rights for all is strengthened. We will continue to be an active, sovereign, and indigenous voice in this Council. We will continue to defend the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and the integrity of migrants. We admire the people of Minnesota in their community resilience. We will oppose double standards and political manipulation.
On the centennial of the birth of the Commander-in-Chief of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro Ruz, our determination to defend the country is absolute, and our decision to safeguard a society centered on achieving the full dignity of the human being and the broadest justice is irrevocable.
Thank you very much.
Geneva, February 23rd, 2026.