On Wednesday, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, outlined three specific demands for the Cuban regime as prerequisites for any diplomatic engagement and the potential end of the embargo: release all political prisoners, legalize civil society, and organize free and fair elections. He detailed these conditions in a post on X, accompanied by a video recorded during the annual embargo debate.
Waltz highlighted the voices of two Cuban dissidents who were present at the U.N. headquarters: José Daniel Ferrer, the founder of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU) and a former political prisoner, and Orlando Gutiérrez-Boronat, Secretary General of the Cuban Resistance Assembly.
"What the Cuban regime needs to do is abundantly clear. Don't take it from me—listen to the courageous Cuban dissidents, José Daniel Ferrer and Orlando Gutiérrez-Boronat. The regime simply needs to release all political prisoners, legalize civil society, and schedule free and fair elections," Waltz stated.
In the video, Gutiérrez-Boronat addressed a journalist by referencing the Libertad Act, also known as the Helms-Burton Act, enacted in 1996: "Release all political prisoners, legalize civil society, and establish a timeline for holding free and multiparty elections."
Waltz then responded to the journalist who framed the embargo as the central issue: "Which of these demands do you have a problem with? No, your questions are biased. The assumption in your question is that the embargo is the issue. Which of these three conditions does anyone oppose? Free elections? The release of political prisoners? Which one, exactly?"
The backdrop was the A/81/L.5 resolution on the embargo, which resulted in 130 votes in favor, 17 against, and 25 abstentions—the most adverse outcome for Havana in over three decades. In 2024, it had garnered 187 favorable votes and only two against; in 2025, 165 in favor and seven against. This 34th edition saw Cuba lose 35 favorable votes from the previous year, with votes against increasing from seven to 17.
Countries voting against the resolution included the U.S. and Israel, as well as Argentina, Austria, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Paraguay, and Ukraine, among others. The resolution is not legally binding and does not alter the current embargo.
Diplomatic tensions ran high during the discussions. On Tuesday, Richard Tur de la Concepción, the first secretary of the Cuban mission, was expelled from the U.S., accused of attempting to seize the phone of Waltz's spokesperson, J.P. Freire, and striking him. Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed the expulsion documents.
From the podium, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez demanded the expulsion of Gutiérrez-Boronat—who attended as a guest of the U.S. delegation—labeling him a "terrorist" and "criminal." The President of the General Assembly, Khalilur Rahman, instructed Rodríguez to return to his seat and dismissed three Cuban motions while Waltz was speaking at the main podium.
Key Points on the U.S. Embargo and Cuba's Political Landscape
What are the conditions set by the U.S. for lifting the embargo on Cuba?
The U.S. has set three conditions for lifting the embargo on Cuba: the release of all political prisoners, the legalization of civil society, and the organization of free and fair elections.
Who are the Cuban dissidents mentioned by Ambassador Waltz?
The Cuban dissidents mentioned by Ambassador Waltz are José Daniel Ferrer, founder of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU) and a former political prisoner, and Orlando Gutiérrez-Boronat, Secretary General of the Cuban Resistance Assembly.
What is the Helms-Burton Act?
The Helms-Burton Act, officially known as the Libertad Act, was enacted in 1996. It outlines conditions for lifting the U.S. embargo on Cuba, including the establishment of a democratic government.