General Assembly debates the United States embargo on Cuba ahead of its 34th vote

28 October 2026

The United Nations General Assembly opened its debate on Tuesday and votes on Wednesday, for the 34th time, on a resolution on the necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba. Each of the 193 Member States has one vote. The Cuban-drafted text reaffirms the sovereign equality of states, non-intervention, non-interference and freedom of trade and navigation, and expresses concern over the Helms-Burton Act of 1996, arguing that its extraterritorial effects undermine the sovereignty of other states; it calls on all states to refrain from such measures and urges those applying them to repeal them. The first vote, in 1992, drew 59 in favour, 3 against and 71 abstentions. Support peaked at 191 votes in favour in 2015, 2016 and 2017. During the debate Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla interrupted United States Ambassador Mike Waltz on a point of order and the President of the General Assembly briefly suspended the session. Waltz said United States exports to Cuba exceeded 876 million dollars in the first eight months of 2026.