Madam President,
We congratulate you and the other members of the Bureau on your election.
Cuba aligns itself with the statements made by Uruguay on behalf of the Group of 77 plus China and by Palau on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island Developing States.
We will participate in the work of the Second Committee in a constructive spirit, guided by the goal of contributing, through multilateralism and cooperation, to eliminating the obstacles and challenges faced by the countries of the Global South.
Madam President,
We are witnessing an extremely complex global context, marked by wars and threats of war, where international law and multilateralism are being undermined, the usefulness of the United Nations is being called into question, and the Sustainable Development Goals are being rejected by the very country that hosts this Organization.
In the face of this cycle of structural crises, how to understand that banks are bailed out in a matter of hours, yet the minimal commitments we made when adopting the 2030 Agenda will not be fulfilled due to a lack of funding?
Madam President,
Cuba reaffirms its support for the Palestinian cause, and reiterates its firm condemnation of the genocide being perpetrated by Israel in Gaza, with sustained political, military, logistical, and financial support from the United States.
The United Nations’ goal of ending wars is more necessary today than ever, but it is impossible to envision peace or the enjoyment of human rights without first guaranteeing the right to development—a right that has been denied to a large part of humanity for decades.
For the eleventh consecutive year, global military spending has increased, reaching a record high of $2.9 trillion in 2025.
Meanwhile, total external debt service for developing countries reached $1.6 trillion in 2025.
In this context, the Seville Commitment has once again placed at the center of our discussions the urgent need to mobilize and provide new, additional, and predictable resources capable of propelling us forward and getting us back on track toward the SDGs, but progress remains modest.
The steps taken toward establishing a multilateral mechanism for sovereign debt negotiation have been tentative. Nor is there progress, as required, on reforming international financial institutions.
Climate change threatens the survival of our species and the planet. We must safeguard, implement, and comply with the objectives and principles of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, its Paris Agreement, and its Kyoto Protocol. Developed countries must take the lead in reducing emissions and in providing the necessary means of implementation for developing countries, based on the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities.
Madam President,
The international community has, on countless occasions, rejected the imposition of unilateral coercive measures that are incompatible with international law and the United Nations Charter.
The U.S. embargo, which my people have endured for more than six decades, has reached unprecedented levels this year. In addition to the economic, commercial, and financial siege, an inhumane energy blockade has been imposed, constituting a form of collective punishment by deliberately hindering Cuba’s access to fuel and directly affecting electricity generation, hospital services, schools, transportation, water distribution, agricultural production, and the availability of food and medicine.
Furthermore, extraterritorial measures and so-called secondary sanctions have intensified, targeting companies, banks, and suppliers from third countries that maintain legitimate relations with Cuba.
Added to this are Cuba’s unjustified continued inclusion on the unilateral list of states that allegedly sponsor terrorism and the smear campaign against Cuban medical cooperation.
Despite these obstacles, we are fulfilling our commitment to the 2030 Agenda with ingenuity and creativity as a responsibility toward our country’s sustainable development, even as our resilience is increasingly put to the test. In this regard, we have undertaken 176 economic and social reforms this year aimed at increasing productivity and addressing the needs of our population in the face of the siege imposed upon us.
Madam President,
The international community cannot continue to postpone the realization of the right to development. Cuba’s actions will continue to be guided by that goal and by the willingness to work for a more just, inclusive and equitable world.
Thank you very much.