The key facts
- Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez accused the US of genocide and violating international law.
- According to him, Washington is threatening UN countries with tariffs, visa cancellations, and cooperation programs ahead of the vote on a resolution against the embargo.
- The UN General Assembly vote on the non-binding resolution is scheduled for October 27–28.
Accusations of genocide and pressure
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez at a press conference in Havana on Wednesday accused the US of committing genocide against Cuba and violating international law. 'A military, nuclear, economic, and technological superpower is committing a monstrous and ongoing act of abuse against a peaceful, peace-loving nation,' Rodriguez said. He also accused Washington of threatening UN member states to influence the upcoming vote on a resolution to end the decades-long US embargo against the island.
Pressure measures according to Havana
In a post on X, Rodriguez said Cuba had identified 'brutal pressure and threats' against countries ahead of the vote. According to him, the measures included punitive tariffs, suspension of cooperation programs, denial of visas to government officials and their relatives, as well as support for opposition forces in the upcoming elections. He added that Washington distributed threatening documents among governments and their delegations at the UN, and American officials offered some countries to abstain or not participate in the vote if they were not ready to vote against Cuba. Rodriguez called the pressure campaign 'a new and dangerous way of conducting multilateral diplomacy' and warned that an international order imposed by military force would be unstable.
'Free Cuba' panel at the UN
The conflict unfolds after the 'Cuba Libre' panel held on Monday at the UN headquarters in New York, organized by the US, where Cuban dissidents and former prisoners discussed alleged human rights violations on the island. US Permanent Representative to the UN Mike Waltz called on countries to vote against the resolution. Cuban Ambassador Ernesto Soberon Guzman condemned the event and accused Washington of collectively punishing the Cuban people. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel also condemned the alleged pressure campaign in a post by the Communist Party of Cuba on X, criticizing the participation of Orlando Gutierrez Boronat, whom he called 'a known terrorist and fraudster'.
Vote and US position
The UN General Assembly plans to vote on October 27–28 on a non-binding resolution calling for an end to the embargo. The US stated that its policy toward Cuba is aimed at promoting democracy and human rights, and noted that lifting the embargo requires congressional approval.
