At UN, Cuba rallies support against ‘ruthless’ US blockade

Diplomatic tensions between Washington and Havana have widened in recent months.Cuba has denounced the “ruthless” US embargo against the island during a United Nations General Assembly debate.“The government of the United States is carrying out against Cuba a multi-dimensional, non-conventional warfare that has already lasted for almost seven decades now and has become ever more cruel and more ruthless during the last seven months,” Minister of Foreign Affairs Bruno Rodriguez told the UN on Tuesday, slamming the blockade’s “collective punishment” of the population.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Cuba’s Communist Party approves opening economy in unprecedented movelist 2 of 3Cuba approves major economic reforms amid US pressurelist 3 of 3Cuba: Between charcoal and solar panelsend of list“Paying attention to this ruthless crime is also a responsibility of the UN,” he added.He noted that the damage wrought by the embargo during the period of March 2025 through February 2026 amounted to a record $8bn, a seven percent increase over the same period one year earlier. He added that these figures however do not include the “extreme impact” of the fuel blockade the US imposed on Cuba in February.Many of the world’s regional blocs, including countries in Africa and the Caribbean, expressed their support for Cuba on Tuesday and condemned the US blockade.Every year since 1992, the General Assembly has adopted by a large majority a non-binding resolution calling for the lifting of the blockade imposed on Cuba by the US.Support weakened slightly last October, when 165 member states voted in favour – down from 187 the year before – and seven against, with a dozen abstentions.Tuesday’s vote on whether to hold the debate signalled potential further erosion, with 136 in favour, nine against, and 30 abstentions – including traditional supporters Germany and Canada.