Cuba’s Foreign Minister Ridicules U.S. Efforts to Sway UN Vote
October 22, 2026
Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla accused the Trump administration of threatening foreign governments with sanctions to pressure them into withdrawing their support for the annual UN resolution calling for an end to the U.S. economic blockade on Cuba.
At a press conference Wednesday, Rodríguez presented documents he said show the State Department pressuring countries to abstain from the vote or leave the room altogether. He said the U.S. threatened governments, companies and individual government officials.
The UN General Assembly has voted overwhelmingly to condemn the U.S. blockade for 33 consecutive years. In 2024, 187 countries supported the resolution, with only the U.S. and Israel opposed. Last year, following an aggressive U.S. lobbying effort, support fell to 165 countries, while seven voted against it.
The General Assembly is scheduled to vote on this year’s resolution on October 28.
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“A brutal effort by the U.S. government, the State Department, and particularly the Secretary of State, to exert pressure,” said Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, Cuba’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. “I have a document here. It asks them not to vote in favor of Cuban propaganda.”
“Here’s another document,” Rodríguez added. “It’s addressed directly to a diplomat and threatens sanctions against their government, their companies, or even them personally, asking them to abstain or to leave the room and not participate.”
“I’m sure there will continue to be great and growing solidarity with Cuba,” the foreign minister concluded, “as Cuba shows it will not be defeated, will not be beaten, will not surrender, and will defend its independence, its sovereignty, and its territorial integrity.”
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