During a session in New York on Wednesday, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa called for the establishment of a specific date for holding free elections in Cuba and Venezuela.
"There should be free elections, and I believe a date should be set—not immediately, but a date should indeed be defined for elections in Venezuela and also in Cuba," Noboa stated in an interview with Martí Noticias, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
Noboa's remarks followed his speech to the United Nations assembly, where he devoted much of his address to advocating for enhanced international cooperation against transnational organized crime.
International Support for Free Elections
Noboa's appeal aligns with statements from various leaders this week during the 81st UN General Assembly, all calling for political change in Cuba.
On Tuesday, former U.S. President Donald Trump described Cuba as a "completely failed state" and declared, "freedom will come to Cuba," prompting the Cuban delegation to walk out in protest.
On the same day, Argentine President Javier Milei demanded an end to "that bloody dictatorship," while Paraguayan President Santiago Peña called for free elections and a democratic transition in Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Haiti.
Previous Actions and Statements
Earlier this year, in May, Noboa had already emphasized the need for a stronger international stance on the Cuban crisis during a speech at the Atlantic Council in Washington, stating, "We cannot stand idly by while people starve."
Two months before that, his administration expelled the Cuban ambassador Basilio Gutiérrez and the rest of the diplomatic mission from Quito. Initially, Ecuador's Foreign Ministry did not provide reasons for the decision, but Noboa later claimed that his government had detected Cuban "interference" in political activities, which he described as violent. Cuba denounced the expulsion as "arbitrary and unjustified" and subsequently closed its embassy in Quito.
This week's UN General Assembly has thus served as a platform for Latin American leaders to voice their demands for political reform and free elections in Cuba.
Key Discussions on Political Reform in Cuba
What did Daniel Noboa propose regarding elections in Cuba?
Daniel Noboa proposed setting a specific date for free elections in Cuba, emphasizing the importance of establishing a timeline for democratic processes.
How did other leaders respond to the situation in Cuba at the UN?
Other leaders, including Donald Trump, Javier Milei, and Santiago Peña, expressed strong criticism of the current situation in Cuba and called for democratic reforms and free elections.
What actions did Ecuador take against the Cuban diplomatic mission?
Ecuador expelled the Cuban ambassador and the diplomatic mission from Quito, citing interference in political activities, which Cuba later condemned as unjustified.