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Cuba Accuses United States of Threatening UN Members Ahead of Embargo Vote
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Cuban Foreign Minister Accuses U.S. of Threatening UN Members
On October 21, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez alleged that the United States was pressuring United Nations member states with threats of sanctions, visa denials, punitive tariffs and other retaliatory measures to sway their votes on a non-binding resolution calling for an end to the U.S. embargo on Cuba. Rodríguez said the pressure was being led personally by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz. The vote is scheduled for October 27 and is expected to continue the following day.
Background: U.S. Embargo and Annual UN Resolutions
The U.S. trade embargo against Cuba began in the early 1960s and has been described as the longest embargo in modern history. Since 1992, the UN General Assembly has repeatedly adopted resolutions urging an end to the embargo, with overwhelming majorities supporting the Cuban position each year.
Official Statements & Responses
Rodríguez told reporters that U.S.
He also said the United States had asked European allies to reconsider their support, citing alleged evidence from the Ukrainian government that Cuban nationals fighting for Russia were not being paid and that the money was flowing to the Cuban government.
Verbatim Quotes
- “These methods of pressure include the threat of imposing punitive tariffs, the suspension of cooperation programs..., support for forces opposed to the governments, the threat of encouraging the overthrow of those governments or interfering in their electoral processes, and the threat of politically destabilizing those countries,” — Bruno Rodriguez, cuban foreign minister
- “The US State Department is exerting unprecedented pressure — at times in a personal and brazen manner by the secretary of state himself — to get UN member states to change their votes,” — Bruno Rodriguez, cuban foreign minister
- “It is a new and dangerous way of conducting multilateral diplomacy,” — Bruno Rodriguez, cuban foreign minister
- “It reflects the impotence of those who know they are in the wrong and whose only remaining recourse is force.” — Bruno Rodriguez, cuban foreign minister
- “Yes, we’ve asked many of our European colleagues: Given this evidence from the Ukrainian government, how can they continue to vote for this resolution that is a propaganda tool for the Cuban regime and that is directly affecting their national security?” — Mike Waltz
