UN General Assembly condemns US Cuba embargo in 130-17 vote
UN General Assembly passes annual resolution against the US economic embargo of Cuba 130-17 with 25 abstentions; Washington cites abstentions as diplomatic shift.
The story in focus
The UN General Assembly voted 130-17 with 25 abstentions to condemn the US economic embargo of Cuba, Al Jazeera reported, its annual vote for more than three decades. US Ambassador Mike Waltz called abstinence by prior supporters including Germany evidence of shifting diplomacy; Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said the US was isolated.
- The UN General Assembly voted 130-17 with 25 abstentions to condemn the US economic embargo of Cuba, Al Jazeera reported.
- Al Jazeera said the Assembly has passed an anti-embargo resolution annually for more than three decades and passed Wednesday's vote.
- US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz described gains in abstentions, including from Germany and Italy, as evidence of a shifting diplomatic posture.
- Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said in a social media post that the US was once again isolated in its attempt to continue strangling the Cuban people.
- Cuban officials accused the US of threatening tariffs and visa restrictions against countries voting to condemn the embargo, Al Jazeera reported.
Vote and margin
Al Jazeera reported that the United Nations General Assembly voted on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, to condemn the United States' economic embargo of Cuba, with 130 countries in favor and 17 opposed, including the US and Israel. Another 25 countries abstained, among them Germany and Italy, which Al Jazeera said had previously voted in favor. The Assembly has passed such a resolution annually for more than three decades.
Competing interpretations
US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz told reporters he was satisfied that major economies including Korea and Germany had shifted position, saying diplomacy takes time and that a tripling of shifted countries was expected to continue growing. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez wrote in a social media post that the US was once again isolated, according to Al Jazeera. Cuban officials accused the US of threatening countries with tariffs and visa restrictions over their votes.
Al Jazeera reported tensions between US and Cuban officials during Tuesday's General Assembly debate, including shouting and an apparent shoving match. Waltz said Richard Tur de la Concepcion, a first secretary at Cuba's UN mission, would be expelled for assaulting an American diplomat. Al Jazeera said it sought comment from the US and Cuban missions and received no response. The resolution is a General Assembly measure and does not itself change US law.
Next steps
Waltz said Washington expects the shift in abstentions to grow, according to Al Jazeera. Cuban officials have not indicated how they will respond to the expulsion announcement. The outcome does not alter the US embargo, which Al Jazeera said has lasted more than six decades and been linked to worsening hardship on the island.
What did the UN General Assembly vote on the US Cuba embargo show?
Al Jazeera reported the Assembly voted 130-17 with 25 abstentions to condemn the US embargo of Cuba. Washington cited abstentions by some former supporters including Germany as a diplomatic shift, while Cuban officials called the US isolated.
Sources & further reading
Help keep the record accurate. Send a correction.
