U.N. Vote On Cuba Embargo Set For Wednesday After 165-7 Rejection Last Year

U.S. and Cuban delegates exchanged loud verbal confrontations on the United Nations General Assembly floor on Tuesday, setting the stage for a Wednesday vote on the U.S. economic embargo. U.N. Ambassador Mike Waltz took the podium to argue against the annual resolution that condemns the decades long trade restrictions. While he detailed allegations of corruption by the Cuban government, members of the Cuban delegation began slamming the table at their seats. Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez walked down the aisle to the front of the chamber and shouted at Waltz. Rodriguez called Waltz a liar. Waltz replied that Rodriguez should understand who he was dealing with and told him to back up. U.N. officials worked to quiet the disruption during the exchange.

The confrontation occurred as the Trump administration increases pressure on Havana. In late January, President Donald Trump announced tariffs on any country selling oil to Cuba. That move has effectively cut off fuel supplies to the island. The lack of fuel has caused widespread power outages that impact cooking, water systems, and telephone services. Cuban officials state that while the U.S. demands private investment, Washington continues to add sanctions that block economic growth.

This incident follows a similar dispute a week earlier between Waltz and Cuban delegate Ernesto Soberon Guzman. That earlier clash happened outside a U.S. hosted panel featuring Cuban dissidents and former prisoners. U.S. officials are using these gatherings to persuade member states to reject the annual resolution. The measure is designed to criticize the U.S. maximum pressure policy against Cuba.

The General Assembly has voted on this resolution for 34 years. In the previous cycle, the vote was 165 to 7 against the embargo, with 12 nations abstaining. Argentina, Ukraine, and Hungary opposed the measure for the first time in that count. Although the resolution is not legally binding, it serves as a record of global opinion. The next vote is scheduled for Wednesday.