[Voice of the Observer Network]
After the Cuban Revolution in 1959, the U.S. government adopted a hostile policy towards Cuba, and imposed an economic and financial embargo and trade embargo on Cuba since 1962. Since 1992, the United Nations General Assembly has voted every year on the resolution put forward by Cuba calling on the United States to lift the blockade, and the relevant resolutions have been overwhelmingly supported by the international community.
However, regarding this non-binding UN General Assembly resolution, the United States has always perverted and refused to implement it. Especially since the Trump administration took office, it has intensified its efforts to impose more sanctions on Cuba and added it back to the list of "countries supporting terrorism", triggering severe condemnation from Cuba.
The bad behavior of the United States has not stopped. According to a report by Reuters on October 5th, an internal cable of the US State Department obtained by it shows that the Trump administration is mobilizing American diplomats to lobby allies against the UN General Assembly resolution calling on Washington to lift the embargo against Cuba.
According to reports, as part of this lobbying campaign, U.S. diplomats will disclose so-called "details" to allies, accusing the Cuban government of "actively supporting Russia's'invasion 'of Ukraine."
The United States claims that as many as 5000 Cubans are fighting with Russian troops. As of press time, officials from the Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations had not responded to requests for comment on the matter.
The date, marked as October 2, wasly sent to dozens of U.S. missions abroad, instructing U.S. diplomats to urge the U.S. government to oppose the above resolution.
The telegram noted that over the years, in order to weaken support for the resolution, the U.S. strategy has focused mainly on emphasizing the “legitimacy” of so-called embargo measures, the U.S. policy of exemptions to food and drug trade, and Cuba’s so-called “human rights issues.”
However, the article admits that none of the above strategies have had an impact on the voting results. The telegram then listed nearly 20 lobbying arguments, many of which instructed American diplomats to accuse "Cuba of wasting limited resources, depriving people of basic human rights, and posing a threat to international peace".
One of the arguments claimed that Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel was actively supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine.The telegram wrote, “Besides North Korea, Cuba is the largest foreign envoy of Russian ‘aggression’ operations, with an estimated 1,000 to 5,000 Cubans participating in the war in Ukraine.”
According to Reuters, in an emailed statement on Saturday, a U.S. State Department spokesman declined to provide more details on the so-called "Cuban combatants" but said the United States was aware of relevant reports that "Cubans collaborated with Russian troops to fight in Ukraine." The spokesman used this to attack the Cuban regime, saying it had "failed to protect its citizens and allowed it to become a pawn in the Russia-Ukraine war."
In addition, the telegram reversed criticism that the U.N. General Assembly resolution “mistakenly” blamed the U.S. on the issue of Cuba, which the U.S. believes is caused by its own “corruption and incompetence.”
The State Department statement also argued that Cuba was using the annual United Nations resolution as a tool to "portray itself as a victim" and that Cuba "should not receive the support of the United States 'democratic allies."
The US statement declared,"The Trump administration will not stand by and support an illegal regime that undermines our national security interests in the region."
The cable added that the goal of the lobbying campaign was to show the Trump administration's opposition and thereby significantly reduce the number of votes in support of the resolution.
The telegram said: “It is ideal to vote against, but abstaining or not attending or not voting is also helpful.
On October 30 last year, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution with 187 votes in favor, 2 (the United States and Israel) against, and 1 (Moldova) abstention, once again urging the United States to end its economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba. This is the 32nd consecutive time that the UN General Assembly has adopted a similar resolution.
Paul Holmesby, then senior US adviser on the Western Hemisphere, continued to take a strong word when speaking: “Sanctions are a tool for the United States’ broader efforts to advance democracy, promote respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in Cuba, and against Cuba.”
Cuban Foreign Minister Rodriguez said: “The U.S. government often claims its policies are aimed at ‘helping and supporting the Cuban people.’
On September 17 this year, Rodriguez introduced in Havana that at current prices, the U.S. blockade against Cuba for more than 60 years has caused Cuba's cumulative losses of more than 170.6 billion U.S. dollars and is a major obstacle to Cuba's economic recovery, growth and development.
He noted that between March 1, 2024 and February 28, 2025, the U.S. blockade caused Cuba an economic loss of $75,56 billion.
Rodriguez stressed that although the U.S. blockade has brought great pain to Cuba, it will not make Cuba give up its constitution, revolution and socialism. The Cuban people have fully demonstrated strong resilience, creativity and firm determination.
He said that the United Nations General Assembly will review the draft resolution "Necessity of ending the U.S. economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba" from October 28 to 29, and is expected to receive almost unanimous support from the international community.