Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez has accused the United States of exerting political and economic pressure to sway the outcome of an upcoming United Nations General Assembly vote on a resolution advocating for the termination of the longstanding U.S. trade embargo against Cuba. The resolution, titled “Necessity of Ending the Economic, Commercial and Financial Embargo Imposed by the United States of America Against Cuba,” is set for a vote on October 28 and marks the 34th time this issue has been presented to the General Assembly.
Rodríguez claims that the U.S. has threatened sanctions, punitive tariffs, visa restrictions, and the suspension of cooperation programs to coerce other countries into opposing the resolution. He argues that this vote is a matter of national sovereignty, emphasizing the right of nations to determine their own foreign policies without external coercion.
The resolution this year specifically addresses fuel and energy restrictions imposed by the U.S. in January 2026, which Havana contends have exacerbated Cuba’s economic challenges. According to Rodríguez, the embargo has inflicted more than $178.7 billion in economic losses on Cuba over six decades.
In January, then U.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order imposing measures against countries and entities supplying fuel to Cuba, a move that the Cuban government criticized as an attempt to further pressure its economy.
In 2025, a similar resolution presented by Cuba at the UN General Assembly garnered significant support, with 165 votes in favor, seven against, and 12 abstentions. As the upcoming vote approaches, Cuba’s allegations against the United States highlight the ongoing tensions and the complexity surrounding this international diplomatic matter.