U.S. Ambassador Waltz Urges Delegates to Vote Against Cuba Resolution

The United Nations General Assembly is currently deliberating on an annual resolution regarding Cuba, a procedural vote that has become a focal point for diplomatic tension between Washington and Havana. U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz addressed the chamber on October 28 to explain his country's position ahead of the final ballot. He framed the upcoming vote as a decision between supporting a communist regime or acknowledging the economic realities of trade flows.

The diplomatic friction escalated on October 27 during a previous session. Cuban representatives reportedly reacted with visible agitation, punching desks and shouting. One Cuban diplomat physically confronted a U.S. diplomat, an act Waltz described as a violation of the Host Country Agreement. In response, the Cuban diplomat was placed on a flight to Havana that same day. This incident set the stage for Waltz's explanation of vote, in which he challenged the narrative that a naval blockade prevents goods from reaching the island.

Waltz presented specific trade data to counter the argument that the U.S. embargo is the primary cause of economic hardship in Cuba. He noted that American companies exported $876 million in merchandise to Cuba in the first eight months of 2026. This total includes $250 million in fuel, making the U.S. the largest supplier to the Cuban private sector. He listed shipments from Belize, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Mexico, Russia, Spain, Uruguay, the European Union, and CARICOM to demonstrate that ports remain open to international commerce.

The ambassador pointed to the conglomerate GAESA, a military business group, as a key example of mismanagement. Citing research from the Miami Herald, Waltz stated that GAESA controls $18 billion in assets and holds $14 billion in cash. He contrasted these figures with the condition of Cuban public services, noting that hospitals lack medication while elites drive BMWs. Waltz observed that Cuba's comptroller general admitted she could not audit GAESA before disappearing from public view two months later.

In a separate humanitarian measure, President Trump committed an additional $100 million in food aid. This package includes medications that Havana previously claimed were restricted. The aid is being distributed through the Catholic Church, a channel Waltz described as reliable. He argued that the Cuban government opposes this route because it bypasses military monopolies that have historically enriched the ruling elite.

Waltz also highlighted the presence of political prisoners in the audience to emphasize the human cost of the resolution. He pointed to Jose Daniel Ferrer, who has been imprisoned twice, and Orlando Gutierrez-Boronat, who faces ongoing persecution. Both men are currently free and seated in the assembly hall. Waltz asked delegates to consider their testimony before casting their votes.

The resolution is scheduled for a vote in the coming days. Havana typically uses the outcome to broadcast state television messages claiming the world supports the government. Waltz urged members to vote no, arguing that the current mechanism allows the regime to continue its practices without independent financial scrutiny. The next step involves the formal recording of the vote in the General Assembly record.