Cuba on Wednesday celebrated the overwhelming approval by the U.N. General Assembly of a resolution urging the United States to lift the more than 60 years old embargo on Cuba, calling it a "victory" in the face of unprecedented pressure from Washington to defeat the initiative. In a post on X, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel described the resolution's broad backing as a "victory for the heroic Cuban people," who have not surrendered despite the "economic suffocation, threats and abuse by the U.S. government."
U.N. member nations debated the resolution, titled "Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States of America against Cuba," between Tuesday and Wednesday before approving it by 130 votes in favor, 17 against and 25 abstentions.
Diaz-Canel underscored the overwhelming international opposition to the embargo, "even in the face of the crudest pressure and blackmail" from Washington to alter the outcome of the vote.
The outcome "is a triumph of the truth over those who rely on lies and blackmail to subject an entire nation to collective punishment," he said. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez, who led the Cuban delegation to the U.N. General Assembly, also called the vote a "new victory" against the U.S. sanctions and further proof that "Cuba is not a threat, the embargo is."
This marks the 34th time the international community has voted to urge an end to the embargo, which official figures show has caused nearly 179 billion U.S. dollars in economic losses to the Caribbean island.
In 2025, countries voted to condemn the embargo with 165 votes in favor, seven against and 12 abstentions.
For more than six decades, Washington has imposed stiff economic, commercial, and financial sanctions on Cuba, a policy intensified by the Trump administration.
Cuba hails "victory" of UN vote urging US to lift embargo
Cuba hails "victory" of UN vote urging US to lift embargo
