Nations for a Free Cuba Initiative Launched

The Lithuanian government, in collaboration with Costa Rica and the United States, held a noteworthy event during the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday, introducing a global initiative called “Nations for a Free Cuba.”

Government representatives convened with Cuban anti-communist dissidents and civil society leaders to explore strategies for how free nations might assist in dismantling the long-standing dictatorship in Havana. Discussions included tactics for cutting off vital financial resources and amplifying the voices of those suffering under the regime.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys led the event, emphasizing the crucial role of Eastern European nations in opposing the Cuban communist regime. He highlighted that Cuba’s compliance with the Russian government in recruiting Cuban nationals as soldiers in the ongoing Ukraine conflict underscores this urgency. Additionally, Budrys reflected on Lithuania’s own escape from communism during the Soviet era, attributing much of its success to international support—support that Lithuania now seeks to extend to Cuba.

Budrys took to social media to express solidarity with the Cuban people, stating, “We condemn the regime’s repression and its support for Russia’s war against Ukraine. We will continue supporting Cuba’s civil society and human rights defenders.”

Ukraine has consistently condemned the involvement of Cuban nationals in combat against them, with reports in May 2025 estimating around 20,000 Cubans fighting for Russia.

On a related note, representatives from Costa Rica participated as part of the recently elected conservative government led by President Laura Fernández. Her administration has made clear its intention to distance itself from communist and leftist regimes internationally. This shift began even before Fernández took office, as her predecessor, Rodrigo Chaves Robles, announced in March a formal cessation of diplomatic relations with Cuba, stating, “we have to clean the hemisphere of communists. Simple as that.”

As part of its foreign policy, the Fernández administration has sought to strengthen ties with President Donald Trump’s administration in Washington, joining the Shield of the Americas security initiative and even broaching the topic of potential American ground operations in Costa Rica.

Fernández remarked that collaborating on combating transnational crime and drug trafficking would enhance national security.

The United States has long identified Cuba as a national security concern, a stance reinforced during both the Trump administration and the recent U.N. General Assembly sessions. President Trump, addressing the assembly, discussed the threats posed by the Castro regime.

He said:

The Cuban regime has also spent decades coordinating with the left-wing radicals and communist networks here in the United States. As our State Department has detailed, they’ve cultivated ties to subversive and radical groups such as the Communist Party USA, Antifa, and the “Democrat” Socialists of America. Communism will never be coming to America — but freedom will be coming to Cuba and safety and security will be coming to Mexico.

Cuban dissident groups attending the event highlighted its unprecedented nature, noting that for decades, the Cuban regime has portrayed itself as a victim of U.S. opposition while the world supposedly favors its actions. Now, national governments are openly aligning themselves against the pro-terrorism regime. The Assembly of the Cuban Resistance, a collective of anti-communists both on the island and abroad, remarked, “For the first time, a group of democratic nations have sat down to discuss how to support the Cuban people.”

Coordination of the Assembly, Orlando Gutiérrez-Boronat, emphasized the monumental shift this represents, revealing for the first time a coalition of nations on an international level committed to defending the Cuban people’s right to freedom. This progression suggests a multilateral approach to advocating for freedom in Cuba.

As the Cuban regime struggles to maintain claims of international support, even within the U.N., it faces increasing opposition. Traditionally, the regime relied on votes condemning U.S. sanctions, often passing with little opposition aside from America and Israel. However, recent votes have seen a growing number of countries abstaining or voting against these condemnations. Notably, in October 2025, seven countries voted against such a resolution, including Ukraine, Paraguay, Hungary, and North Macedonia, with Costa Rica and Lithuania opting to abstain.

In July, another vote witnessed a decline in support for the Cuban regime, with nine countries voting against the condemnation while 30 chose to abstain.