The resolution – titled Need to end the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba – was adopted by 165 votes in favor, seven against and twelve abstentions.
Last year, the measure was approved by 187 votes, two against (the United States and Israel) and only one abstention (Moldova).
Those who voted against this year’s resolution were the United States, Israel, Argentina, Hungary, Paraguay, North Macedonia and Ukraine.
The twelve abstentions came from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Morocco, Poland, Moldova and Romania.
Cuban support for Russian invasion provokes anger
Explaining its decision to abstain, Poland – also speaking on behalf of Czechia, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – said it reflected “the selective application of the United Nations Charter,” citing Cuba’s continued support for Russia amid its ongoing, large-scale invasion of Ukraine, where Cuban citizens have reportedly been fighting on Moscow’s side.
Romania echoed those concerns, noting that while it had long supported the resolution, “foreign participation in an illegal war of aggression is a flagrant violation of the United Nations Charter and international law,” and called on Cuba to withdraw its support for the invasion.
While the resolution remains non-binding, its adoption once again signals the international community’s disapproval of unilateral coercive measures with extraterritorial effects.
the resolution
The text reiterates the Assembly’s long-standing call for all States to reject punitive US legislation such as the 1996 Helms-Burton Act, which Cuba and other countries argue violates international law and the UN Charter.
The Assembly also highlighted the measures adopted by US President Barack Obama in 2015 and 2016 to modify some aspects of the embargo, “which contrast with the measures applied since 2017 (under the first administration of Donald Trump) to strengthen its implementation.”
Through the resolution, the General Assembly also decided once again to include the embargo text on the provisional agenda for next year’s session.