The UN General Assembly voted Thursday by a large margin against the United States’ economic and trade embargo against Cuba, first imposed in 1960. A total of 187 States voted for the resolution put forward each year against the embargo with only the US and Israel voting against and Ukraine abstaining.

The UN General Assembly votes on the necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States against Cuba, Thursday, November 2, 2023 (Photo: UN)

The resolution’s full title is the “necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba,” recalls that over 80 percent of Cuba’s population was born under the effects of the policy. The report presented by the UN Secretary General, António Guterres, recognizes the continuation of the blockade against Cuba and its inclusion in the list of state sponsors of terrorism, as actions incompatible with an international system based on law.

Both US policies are a flagrant exercise of political and economic power in clear violation of human rights, including access to development.

The effects of these measures are as obvious as they are inadmissible, according to the Charter of the United Nations and the principles of international law, the report adds. Also, according to that information, the situation in Cuba only confirms the need to dismantle the system of sanctions, which undermines sovereign rights, the realization of human rights, and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals.

The Assembly voiced concern that despite its resolutions dating back to 1992 “the economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba is still in place”, and that “the adverse effects of such measures on the Cuban people and on Cuban nationals living in other countries.” It recalled measures adopted by then US President Barack Obama in 2015 and 2016 “to modify several aspects of the application of the embargo, which contrast with the measures applied since 2017 to reinforce its implementation.” The General Assembly reiterated its call for all States to refrain from promulgating and applying such restrictive laws and measures, in line with their obligations under the UN Charter and international law.

The Communist Party of Israel (CPI) condemned the aggressive Israeli official position against Cuba and called for the support of the Cuban people in their struggle to force the imperialist US administration to lift its unilateral and illegal blockade against Cuba. The CPI statement “condemned Israel’s far-right government and its vicious policy.”

The CPI statement said: “The US blockade against Cuba was adopted unilaterally in the 1960s. The blockade is a criminal one as it violates international law, particularly the right of the Cuban people to self-determination.” Despite the intensification of the illegal blockade, the Cuban people continue to defend their nation’s right to national sovereignty. They have overwhelmingly rejected all kinds of imperialist interference in their country’s domestic affairs.

Click here for the full text of the resolution