United States, Lithuania, and Costa Rica launch ‘Nations for a Free Cuba’ initiative

The United States, Lithuania, and Costa Rica have launched a new international initiative titled ‘Nations for a Free Cuba’ to support democratic movements and human rights advocates within Cuba. The announcement was made during a gathering hosted by Lithuania on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys led the discussions, which included meetings with representatives of the Cuban diaspora and civil society leaders. The initiative aims to coordinate international backing for political reform, empower victims of persecution, and potentially address critical financial flows that sustain the current Cuban government.

Lithuanian officials highlighted the connection between the Cuban regime and the conflict in Ukraine, condemning Cuba’s support for Russia’s aggression. The initiative follows recent diplomatic discussions between Minister Budrys and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding the necessity of opposing abuses by the Cuban regime.