On Tuesday, Miguel Díaz-Canel took to Facebook to highlight what he described as the overwhelming international support for Cuba during the United Nations General Assembly debate on the U.S. embargo. He notably overlooked the disruptive incident involving his Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, at the same event.
"Today at the UN, the broad support of the international community for Cuba in condemning the blockade and against the U.S. government's maximum pressure policy was evident," Díaz-Canel stated. He claimed that the U.S. representative was "clearly isolated."
What Díaz-Canel failed to address was the spectacle caused by his own foreign minister during the debate. Rodríguez interrupted U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz's speech, approached the podium with other Cuban delegates, and submitted at least three procedural motions that were all rejected, leading to a session suspension ordered by General Assembly President Khalilur Rahman.
Rodríguez labeled Waltz's address a "media circus" and shared a video of the confrontation on X, portraying it as a response to "U.S. lies." However, international media outlets like EFE, Bloomberg Línea, and La Nación characterized the incident as chaotic and unusually confrontational.
Waltz countered that there is no strict embargo, suggesting that this would mean "a military blockade around an island," and urged member states to reject the Cuban resolution, warning that supporting it would equate to contributing to the "mistreatment of the Cuban people."
Without acknowledging the incident, Díaz-Canel concluded his post with the assertion, "Cuba is not a threat, the embargo is," accusing Washington of imposing a "criminal energy siege" on the island and pressuring sovereign nations to alter their stance.
The Cuban public's reaction in the comments section of the post was predominantly sarcastic and critical. "So, the problem is over, tomorrow we will have a new Cuba," one user remarked with irony.
Others were more blunt: "Stop killing your people [...] you eat meat while your people eat tortillas with oil," demanded another commenter, while a third called for "free elections in Cuba."
This marks the 34th time Cuba has presented the resolution demanding the end of the embargo at the UN since it began doing so in 1992. International support has waned, dropping from 187 votes in favor in 2024 to 165 in 2025, the lowest level in over three decades, with seven votes against and 12 abstentions.
Understanding the UN Debate on the Cuban Embargo
What was the main focus of Díaz-Canel's speech at the UN?
Díaz-Canel focused on emphasizing the international community's support for Cuba in condemning the U.S. embargo, while ignoring the disruptive actions of his Foreign Minister during the session.
How did Bruno Rodríguez disrupt the UN session?
Bruno Rodríguez interrupted the U.S. ambassador's speech, approached the podium with other Cuban delegates, and submitted several procedural motions, leading to a suspension of the session.
How did the international media react to Rodríguez's actions?
International media outlets described Rodríguez's actions as chaotic and unusually confrontational, contrasting his portrayal of the incident as a legitimate response to U.S. "lies."