In brief
The U.N. General Assembly passed a resolution to end the U.S. embargo against Cuba with 130 votes in favour, 17 against and 25 abstentions, marking the 34th such vote. The resolution saw 35 fewer supportive votes compared to 2025, reflecting a shift in member states. While Cuban officials hailed the decision as a victory, U.S. officials and some governments have questioned the motives and outcomes.
On Wednesday, 28 October, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution to lift the United States embargo on Cuba, a move that many deemed a diplomatic triumph for Havana but that also marked a loss of support for the island nation. The vote concluded with 130 member states in favour, 17 against and 25 abstentions, the first time the resolution failed to reach the 165‑vote threshold seen in 2025.
Confirmed Outcome
United Press International reported that the resolution received 130 affirmative votes, 17 votes of opposition, and 25 abstentions, a reduction of 35 supporting votes compared to the prior year. Another 21 countries did not participate in the vote. The Cuban government condemned the vote as a continuation of U.S. sanctions and blamed Washington for a perceived diplomatic campaign against it.
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, speaking in the U.N. delegation, said the embargo had “serious economic and humanitarian consequences”, describing U.S. fuel restrictions as “equivalent to a naval blockade.” He accused Washington of “collective punishment and genocide.”
President Miguel Diaz‑Canel posted on X that the resolution was a “victory for the heroic Cuban people” against U.S. “blackmail” and “economic suffocation.” The Cuban government refers to the measure as the 34th time the international community has called for an end to the embargo. The official tally of economic losses caused by the blockade is cited as nearly US$179 billion.
Unconfirmed Allegations and Pre‑Vote Calls
Prior to the vote, African analysts such as Fortune Madondo called for a unified African stance to support Cuba against U.S. pressure, describing U.S. tactics as “blackmail.” The mobilisation of African states, however, remained a call rather than confirmed action before the proceedings.
Italian scholar Luciano Vasapollo urged European governments, particularly Italy, to reject Washington’s coercion ahead of the UN vote, framing the embargo as a moral issue. The National Italy‑Cuba Friendship Association sent a letter to Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani urging a favourable vote; the request was a political appeal that may have influenced but was not confirmed as a decisive factor.
Cuban Ambassador Leyde Rodríguez to the Holy See highlighted that the blockade had intensified since the start of 2026, claiming $8.083 billion in damages from March 2025 through February 2026 and arguing that the policy amounted to collective punishment. These claims, presented at a press conference, await independent verification.
