UN General Assembly condemns US blockade of Cuba

On 7 July 2026 the United Nations General Assembly voted on a Cuban‑sponsored motion to end the United States’ economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba. A large majority of 136 member states supported the motion, nine voted against it and 30 abstained.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla led the delegation, denouncing the embargo as a "war" and presenting photos of blackouts and medical procedures performed under candlelight. He said, "The blockade suffocates and kills silently" and accused the United States of acting as a "multidimensional, non‑conventional war". During the debate U.S. Ambassador Michael G. Waltz called the claim a myth, calling Rodríguez a liar: "You are a liar, Mr. Waltz".

The United States attempted to block the agenda and to dismiss the debate as a waste of UN resources. The vote was endorsed by many countries, while a handful – including Argentina, Costa Rica and Israel – opposed it, and several EU members abstained. Canadian officials also abstained. Two days after the vote, UN Secretary‑General António Guterres met with Rodríguez to discuss the humanitarian impact, which the Cuban side estimates at over $8 billion in damages.