On Wednesday, Cuban dissident José Daniel Ferrer took to Facebook from the United Nations headquarters in New York to report that the Cuban regime's delegation "behaved better today." He suggested that this change in demeanor stemmed from a fear of further expulsions, saying, "They fear being expelled and the end of sending goods to Cuba."
The post was accompanied by a photo featuring Ferrer with fellow dissident Orlando Gutiérrez-Boronat and U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Mike Waltz, standing in front of a panel of international flags at the multilateral organization's building.
Ferrer’s remarks came during the second day of the annual General Assembly debate on the U.S. embargo against Cuba. His comments followed the expulsion of the first secretary of Cuba's Permanent Mission to the UN, Richard Tur de la Concepción, by Washington. Tur allegedly attempted to snatch a phone from Waltz's spokesman, J.P. Freire, and struck him while Freire recorded a confrontation in the assembly hall.
On Tuesday, Waltz made a strong announcement on Fox News, stating, "He’s gone. He’ll be on a plane to Havana within the next 24 hours. If you lay a hand on an American here in the United States, President Trump, Secretary Rubio, and I will not tolerate it."
That same day, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla advanced toward the podium where Waltz was speaking, prompting General Assembly President Khalilur Rahman to briefly suspend the session and ask Rodríguez to return to his seat.
On Wednesday, with the Cuban delegation noticeably more restrained, according to Ferrer, Rodríguez took the podium to demand the immediate expulsion of Gutiérrez-Boronat, whom he labeled a "terrorist" and "criminal," claiming he is number 52 on Cuba's international wanted list.
Gutiérrez-Boronat, the Secretary General of the Assembly of the Cuban Resistance, attended the sessions as a guest of the U.S. delegation. He responded on Facebook with irony: "The dictatorship’s foreign minister calls for my expulsion from the United Nations, what an honor. Cuba will be free."
Ferrer’s mention of "sending goods" refers to a widespread practice among Cuban diplomats stationed in the U.S.: regularly sending goods back to their families on the island—a privilege they would lose if expelled from the country.
The debate concluded with the vote on the annual resolution against the embargo, which saw La Habana’s worst historical outcome since Cuba began presenting it in 1992: 130 votes in favor, 17 against, and 25 abstentions, compared to 165 in favor in 2025 and 187 in 2024.
Despite the drop in support, the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs celebrated the result as a "victory." The resolution is not legally binding, and its approval does not alter the embargo, whose removal depends solely on the U.S. Congress.
Understanding the UN Assembly's Impact on Cuba
Why did the Cuban delegation's behavior change at the UN?
The Cuban delegation's behavior reportedly improved due to fear of further expulsions, which would end their ability to send goods back to their families in Cuba.
What was the outcome of the UN vote on the embargo?
The vote resulted in 130 in favor, 17 against, and 25 abstentions, marking the worst result for Cuba since 1992, though the Cuban government still declared it a "victory."
Is the UN resolution on the embargo legally binding?
No, the resolution is not legally binding and does not change the embargo, which can only be lifted by the U.S. Congress.