UN’s Resolution on Cuba Shows Shifts in Global Attitudes

The United Nations passed a resolution on Wednesday that condemned the alleged U.S. “embargo” on Cuba. Interestingly, this year’s vote reflected the lowest support since the practice started in the 1990s, hinting at a possible shift in how the international community views the communist regime.

Traditionally, each year, the UN General Assembly votes on a resolution advocating for open trade with Cuba, often referred to as the “embargo.” Historically, this has passed with overwhelming support, usually with only the U.S. and Israel opposing it. The embargo, which restricts trade to inhibit funding for the Castro regime, doesn’t actually prevent Cuba from accessing the global market—food and medicine are exempt, making the U.S. a major supplier of essentials to the island.

Despite this context, the Cuban government attributes the ongoing poverty in the country—except for the Castro family—to the embargo. This narrative is echoed by various allies of the regime worldwide, even though it overlooks the harsh realities of communism that have devastated what was once a prosperous nation in Latin America.

In the previous year, 165 countries voted against the alleged embargo, which seemed promising compared to 2024 when 187 supported condemning it. This time, only 130 countries lent their support to the resolution asking for unrestricted economic relations with the U.S., which Cuba appears keen to criticize.

Notably, this year saw three times the number of countries either vote against the resolution, abstain, or simply not show up compared to 2025. A group of 14 nations, mainly from Latin America and Eastern Europe, opposed the resolution, which included Argentina, Colombia, and Paraguay—all currently under conservative leadership—as well as Ukraine, which is now facing Cuban soldiers aiding Russia, and the UAE and Morocco, representing dissent against the Castro regime in the Muslim world.

Some countries that abstained included notable European nations supportive of Ukraine during Russia’s invasion, like Germany, Italy, and Poland. South Korea’s left-wing government also abstained, along with small Pacific island nations like the Solomon Islands and Palau. Meanwhile, former allies of Cuba, such as Venezuela and Syria, and other varied nations like Jordan and Tajikistan chose not to participate.

An independent news outlet noted a shift with four nations—Colombia, UAE, Slovenia, and Trinidad and Tobago—switching from supporting the resolution last year to opposing it this year. Additionally, 17 nations that had previously supported the resolution abstained this time. Six countries flipped their vote from abstaining last year to opposing this year, including Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Czech Republic.

Only two nations, Madagascar and Nauru, supported the resolution this year after abstaining the previous year.

Following the vote, U.S. ambassador to the UN, Mike Waltz, remarked that nearly three times as many countries either opposed or abstained from voting, indicating a growing pushback against the narrative from Havana. “More work to do, but the world is starting to resist Cuban regime propaganda as their corruption and oppression become more evident. Cuba Libre!” he stated.

Waltz had previously utilized his platform to illustrate the disparity between the wealth of the Castro family and the suffering of average Cubans, showcasing evidence like the luxury island owned by the Castros and their personal valuables, alluding to systemic theft as the real cause of poverty among the citizens.

This presentation drew ire from Cuban diplomats, leading to a chaotic scene where they interrupted Waltz. Notably, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez was part of the disruption, attempting to silence the ambassador, and an incident occurred where a Cuban diplomat allegedly tried to seize the phone of Waltz’s press aide.

Waltz later confirmed that actions were taken against the diplomat who confronted his aide, as the situation escalated. Anticipating the vote, Waltz also held an event titled “Cuba Libre: The Oppression that Havana Hides,” where victims of the Castro regime shared their experiences. The event was attended by a Ukrainian diplomat, discussing the use of Cuban nationals in the ongoing conflict.

Cuban regime representatives also targeted this event, attempting to stage a traditional intimidation tactic against dissenters.