The United Nations General Assembly has voted to adopt a resolution calling on the United States to lift the economic embargo imposed on Cuba since 1962.
According to the AP, the resolution was passed by the UN General Assembly on October 28, with 130 votes in favor, 17 against, and 25 abstentions. The voting results show that several Western nations—including Germany, Italy, and Latvia—abstained for the first time.
"The world has once again expressed an overwhelming voice against the embargo, despite the pressure and threats exerted by the U.S. to alter the outcome of the vote," Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel wrote on X.
This marks the 34th consecutive year that the UN General Assembly has adopted a resolution calling on the United States to lift its embargo against Cuba. The resolution reflects the stance of the international community but is not legally binding.
The United States severed diplomatic relations with Cuba on January 3, 1961, following the success of the revolution on the island nation, and imposed an economic embargo in 1962. Bilateral tensions eased during the administration of former President Barack Obama, when the U.S. restored diplomatic ties with Cuba and removed the country from its list of state sponsors of terrorism in 2015.Since taking office in January 2017, President Donald Trump tightened restrictions on Cuba that had previously been eased by President Obama. Upon returning to power in January 2025, Mr. Trump further intensified the embargo.
In January, the White House threatened to impose additional tariffs on goods from countries that directly or indirectly supply oil to Cuba. Havana criticized this move, labeling it a "cruel act of aggression against the country and the people of Cuba."
According to Francisco Pichon, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Cuba, the tightening of U.S. sanctions has led to an energy crisis and the risk of a humanitarian crisis. The World Health Organization (WHO) has also warned that the energy shortage is negatively impacting the health of the Cuban population.