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

At the United Nations General Assembly, Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez denounced the US embargo as a "ruthless" and "collective punishment" that has lasted for nearly seven decades. He reported that the embargo caused an estimated $8 billion in damages between March 2025 and February 2026, an increase from the previous year, and did not account for the impact of a recent fuel blockade. Many regional blocs, including African and Caribbean nations, voiced support for Cuba and condemned the US blockade. The UN General Assembly has annually passed a non-binding resolution calling for the embargo's end since 1992, though recent votes have seen slightly weakened support.

At a UN General Assembly debate on Tuesday, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez condemned the US embargo against Cuba. Rodriguez described the embargo as a "ruthless" and "cruel" multi-dimensional warfare that has lasted for nearly seventy years. He stated that the blockade inflicts "collective punishment" on the Cuban population and urged the United Nations to address this "ruthless crime." The debate proceeded despite diplomatic pressure from Washington to prevent it.

At the UN General Assembly, Cuba's foreign minister accused the U.S. of an "act of war" due to fuel shipment restrictions, which he claimed caused a nationwide electrical grid collapse affecting millions. U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz rejected the accusation, stating there was no naval blockade and instead blamed Cuba's communist government for years of blackouts, repression, and economic collapse. Waltz asserted that the true "embargo" is imposed by the Cuban regime on its own people, highlighting the detention of artists and activists. He also noted that humanitarian aid continues to reach Cuba from various countries and the U.S. provided significant financial assistance. The confrontation occurred as Cuba faced its third major blackout this year.