New York, 22 July 2026. – Cuba reaffirmed at the United Nations Security Council that the governance of natural resources can only contribute to peace, security, and prosperity when States' permanent sovereignty over their wealth, international law, and the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter are fully respected. This was stated by Cuba's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Ernesto Soberón Guzmán, at the high-level open debate "Natural resources governance: the foundation for peace, security, and prosperity."
The Cuban diplomat recalled that the historic plundering of the natural resources of the peoples of the Global South, as a result of colonialism and neocolonial practices, continues to fuel the inequalities of the international economic order. In that context, he reaffirmed that States' permanent sovereignty over their wealth constitutes a right recognized by Resolution 1803 (XVII) of the General Assembly and is an indispensable condition for sustainable development.
Ambassador Soberón denounced that unilateral coercive measures violate international law and seriously affect States' capability to sovereignly manage their resources. He stressed that the economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by the United States Government against Cuba, in force for nearly seven decades, and its extraterritorial application hinder legitimate trade, economic cooperation, investment, and the country's access to essential resources—particularly in strategic sectors such as energy, mining, infrastructure, healthcare, and food production.
The Permanent Representative emphasized that no State has the authority to prevent legitimate trade between sovereign countries, nor to sanction companies, banks, shipping companies, or financial entities that participate in transactions in accordance with international law. He reiterated that these actions constitute a violation of the principles governing international trade, freedom of navigation, and the sovereign equality of States.
Cuba also reaffirmed the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and sovereignty over their natural resources, denouncing that the Israeli occupation deprives them of control over their own wealth. He further reiterated the need to end the plundering of the natural resources of the Sahrawi people in the non-self-governing territory of Western Sahara, which remains awaiting decolonization.
Cuba concluded by asserting that lasting peace requires respect for international law, multilateralism, and genuine international cooperation that facilitates the transfer of technology, equitable access to financing, and the strengthening of national capacities for the sustainable management of natural resources. Likewise, Cuba reaffirmed its commitment to defending the permanent sovereignty of States over their natural resources and to building a more just and equitable international order.
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations.