The United Nations General Assembly witnessed a heated confrontation on Tuesday during the debate over the annual resolution that the Cuban regime has been presenting since 1992, demanding the end of the U.S. embargo. This marks the 34th edition of this non-binding diplomatic exercise in front of the 193 member states.
The debate is set to continue through Wednesday, when the vote is scheduled to take place. The resolution, officially titled "Necessity of ending the economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by the United States of America against Cuba" — a term coined by the regime — has been approved by a significant majority nearly every year, though it holds no legal weight: only the U.S. Congress has the authority to lift the embargo.
Clashes and Confrontations at the UN Assembly
A tense scene unfolded at the UN General Assembly during the debate when Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla and other Cuban delegates rose from their seats to interrupt U.S. Ambassador Michael Waltz (Mike Waltz) as he spoke.
The Assembly President threatened to suspend the session due to the interruptions and exchanged reproaches, urging Rodríguez to return to his seat. Waltz, refusing to be intimidated, denounced the interruptions. The Cuban delegation presented at least three motions of order, all of which were rejected, while Rodríguez publicly accused the American diplomat of lying.
U.S. Accusations and Declining Support for Cuba
During his remarks, Waltz accused Cuba’s ruling elite of enriching themselves while the general population struggles economically, displaying photos of luxury items and properties linked to Fidel Castro and his family. He also referenced an investigation by the Miami Herald on GAESA, which reportedly amassed $18 billion in profits and $14 billion in cash.
International support for Cuba's stance has steadily declined: from 187 votes in favor in 2024 to 165 in October 2025 — the lowest since 2010 — with seven countries voting against: the United States, Israel, Argentina, Paraguay, Ukraine, North Macedonia, and Hungary.
Shifts in Latin American Votes and U.S. Diplomatic Offensive
The most alarming sign for Havana came in July 2026, during a procedural vote to authorize an extraordinary debate on the embargo that garnered only 136 votes, with 30 abstentions and nine against, including Costa Rica, which closed its embassy in Havana in March that year.
The Trump administration has launched an unprecedented diplomatic offensive to weaken support for Cuba. Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel acknowledged on his radio program that it was "the most intense diplomatic and communication offensive ever," admitting that "some will change their vote due to U.S. pressures."
Nations considering changing their stance include Germany, which has voted in favor since 2002, with its foreign affairs secretary stating their position is "undecided." Canada, which abstained in July, is still "considering" its position, and several Caribbean nations, like Trinidad and Tobago, have already broken historical voting patterns by abstaining in procedural votes.
Foreign Minister Rodríguez accused Secretary of State Marco Rubio of "blackmailing" heads of state and claimed an unnamed Latin American government was acting under Washington's orders. Rubio directly contacted Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele to urge alignment with Washington.
The U.S. offensive included a forum on October 20 at the UN, organized by Ambassador Waltz and titled "Free Cuba: The Oppression Havana Hides," featuring freed political prisoner José Daniel Ferrer and artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara. Cuban diplomats staged a protest in the UN corridors, shouting "terrorists" and "get out of the UN" at the panelists.
Economic Impact and Diplomatic Isolation
Before the Assembly, the regime will argue that the embargo caused an impact of $8.056 billion between March 2025 and February 2026, with accumulated losses exceeding $178.7 billion over six decades. These are self-reported estimates from the Cuban government, not independently audited, and contrast with U.S. diplomatic data. In 2025, the U.S. exported over $810 million in goods to Cuba, with the regime spending in 2024 eleven times more maintaining its tourism industry — controlled by the military conglomerate GAESA — than on health and education combined.
U.S. Chargé d'Affaires in Barbados, Karin Sullivan, penned an op-ed to Caribbean governments arguing, "Why are the lights going out? Because the incompetent regime puts itself first."
The historical peak of support for the resolution was 191 votes in 2016, during the thaw initiated by Barack Obama, when the U.S. and Israel abstained for the first time. Wednesday's vote could set a new historical low and serve as the most accurate gauge of the Cuban regime's growing isolation in international forums.
Key Questions on Cuba's Diplomatic Struggles
What is the significance of the UN vote on the Cuba embargo?
The UN vote on the Cuba embargo is a non-binding resolution that aims to highlight international opposition to the U.S. embargo on Cuba. It has been held annually since 1992, but only the U.S. Congress can lift the embargo.
How has international support for Cuba changed over the years?
International support for Cuba has declined significantly, with a drop from 187 votes in favor in 2024 to 165 in 2025, marking the lowest support since 2010.
What role does the U.S. play in the changing votes at the UN?
The U.S. has engaged in an active diplomatic campaign to reduce support for Cuba at the UN, which includes direct appeals to other countries and organizing forums to expose the Cuban regime's practices.