U.S. and Cuban diplomats clashed loudly on October 27 at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, temporarily halting the session.
The 27th plenary meeting of the 81st UN General Assembly was discussing an annual resolution calling for the lifting of the U.S. embargo against Cuba, which has been in place for decades.
Cuba has submitted this resolution annually since 1992. While it is not legally binding, it has consistently received overwhelming support from member states and is set for a vote on October 28.
This year, tensions escalated as the U.S. intensified its pressure on Cuba, including an oil blockade, and began persuading member states to oppose the resolution.
During the meeting, U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz expressed opposition to the resolution, citing human rights abuses and corruption under the Cuban communist regime. In response, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez and his delegation reacted vehemently, banging on the table and demanding to speak.
As Rodríguez approached the podium to protest, Waltz also raised his voice, halting his remarks.
UN General Assembly President Halilrahman Qadir requested order from both sides, but the disruption continued.
Rodríguez shouted at Waltz, calling him a "liar," to which Waltz retorted, "This is the UN, not your communist dictatorship. You cannot silence me." He added, "This is not Havana. Do you know who you are dealing with? This is America. Step aside."
As the uproar intensified, Qadir suspended the meeting and reiterated the need for order from both delegations.
After regaining the floor, Rodríguez criticized Waltz for "ridiculous lies" that undermined the dignity of the assembly, member states, and the Cuban people and government. Waltz continued his criticism of the Cuban regime when he was given another opportunity to speak.
After the assembly concluded, Waltz posted a series of critical tweets targeting the Cuban regime, stating, "While the people starve, I will continue to expose Cuba's corrupt regime at the UN," and included testimonies from Cuban dissidents and former political prisoners.
He added, "When the so-called 'diplomats' become enraged at the slightest hint of criticism in the UN chamber, imagine what happens to those who dare to speak out under their iron-fisted rule at home."
The U.S. embargo against Cuba began in 1960 after the Castro revolutionary government seized U.S. corporate assets and aligned with the Soviet Union. It was expanded to a full embargo in 1962 under the Kennedy administration. The Cuban government claims that the embargo, which has lasted over 60 years, is the main cause of its economic difficulties, while the U.S. cites human rights issues as justification for maintaining the sanctions. The UN General Assembly has overwhelmingly adopted resolutions calling for the lifting of the embargo almost every year since 1992.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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