In brief
The General Assembly voted 130‑17‑25 to lift the U.S. embargo on Cuba, marking a loss of 35 votes in favor compared with 2025. Cuban leaders condemned the vote as part of a Washington‑led diplomatic campaign, while U.S. officials cited Cuba’s internal policies. African and European voices urged unity in support of the resolution.
The United Nations General Assembly approved a resolution to end the United States embargo on Cuba on October 28, 2026, with 130 votes in favor, 17 against and 25 abstentions, according to United Press International and Xinhua. The vote came after a second‑year debate that began on October 27. The resolution’s passage followed a 2025 vote that saw 165 nations in favor, seven against and 12 abstentions, meaning Cuba lost 35 votes in support this year.
Welcomes for the vote echo Cuban officials’ statements that the embargo remains a tool of political coercion. On X, President Miguel Diaz‑Canel called the vote a “victory for the heroic Cuban people,” and Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez described it as a “new victory” against U.S. sanctions. Both officials said Washington had been “waging an intense diplomatic campaign” to convince other states to oppose or abstain from the resolution.
In contrast, U.S. officials blamed domestic policy in Cuba for the outcome, criticizing the conduct of Cuban delegates. The U.S. Department of State said it was “outside the scope of this vote” for Washington to shape other countries’ votes, but it has denied that any direct pressure was applied.
African and European solidarity voices have called for a unified stance in the General Assembly. Pan‑Africanist analyst Fortune Madondo urged African states to vote against the embargo, accusing Washington of blackmailing countries through threats and sanctions. Italian scholar Luciano Vasapollo said European governments should reject U.S. pressure ahead of the vote, while the National Italy‑Cuba Friendship Association has written to Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani urging a favorable vote for Cuba.
The resolution’s debate highlights a shift in international sentiment. In Latin America, Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Paraguay voted against the proposal this year, contrasted with Brazil, Mexico, Uruguay, Nicaragua and Panama, which maintained support. In Europe, Germany, Italy and Latvia moved from favoring the resolution to abstaining. Such changes underscore the narrowing range of supporters for Cuba’s bid to lift its embargo.
