Most nations at UN vote to condemn U.S. embargo on Cuba
The UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to condemn the long-standing U.S. economic embargo against Cuba. Despite the symbolic victory for Cuba, the U.S. maintains that the sanctions are necessary to address the country's governance.
Why it matters
The vote highlights ongoing geopolitical friction between the U.S. and Cuba and reflects shifting diplomatic stances among major global economies.
The results showed 130 nations — including Canada — in favour of the resolution, 25 abstaining and 17 countries, including the U.S. and Israel, voting against. That compared with a tally of 165-7, with 12 abstentions, last year. Several Western countries, including Germany and Italy, abstained for the first time in many years.
The UN vote carries political weight, but only the U.S. Congress can lift the Cold War-era embargo. The 193-member UN General Assembly has adopted the resolution annually for more than three decades — except for 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic — to little effect.
Shouting erupts at UN embargo vote as U.S., Cuban officials face off
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