Cuba calls for end to US embargo in speech at UN General Assembly

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez railed against the six-decade-old economic embargo imposed by the US against his country, which he described as “vast, cruel and immoral” in his speech Wednesday at the 77th session of the UN General Assembly in New York.
“The government of the US is reinforcing pressure on banking institutions, companies and governments throughout the world that are interested in establishing relations with Cuba and the US continues to obsessively pursue all sources of foreign exchange coming into the country to bring about the economic collapse of the nation,” Rodriguez said.

“The US offensive is aimed at bending states to their will by means of threats and economic coercion as well as military, political and diplomatic coercion in order to subject them to an order based on their whimsical rules,” he added.

The embargo was originally enacted in 1960, but sanctions were strengthened in 1962 and then tightened by President Donald Trump, who imposed more than 240 new sanctions. The Biden administration has not eased tensions with the island.

The UN General Assembly has voted in favor of ending the embargo on Cuba 29 times, consistently winning the overwhelming support of UN members.