The General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) voted in favor of ending the "economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba." Some 187 countries voted in favor, one abstained (Ukraine) and only two were against, Israel and the United States. The head of the Cuban regime, Miguel Díaz-Canel, celebrated the event as a "triumph of dignity."
The resolution was presented by the island nation, which leveraged the "sovereign equality of states" to draft the document that "once again urges the States in which laws and measures of this type exist and continue to be applied to, in the shortest possible period and in accordance with its legal system, take the necessary measures to repeal them or render them void."
Díaz-Canel celebrated the vote on X, formerly known as Twitter. "A new victory for the Cuban people and their Revolution. The recognition and support of the international community for the heroism and resistance of Cuba. The triumph of the dignity and courage of our people," he wrote.
Una vez más, la Asamblea General rechazó por mayoría abrumadora el embargo que EEUU mantiene contra Cuba desde hace más de 6 décadas.
El resultado fue 187 votos a favor, dos en contra, los de Estados Unidos e Israel, y una abstención, la de Ucrania. https://t.co/BlTNeZKQPP pic.twitter.com/7Pjzu4If1f
— Naciones Unidas (@ONU_es) November 2, 2023
'The United States continues to be one of Cuba's main trading partners'
Paul Folmsbee, representative of the United States in the UN General Assembly, recalled that there are “one thousand political prisoners” in Cuba, ensuring that it is “more than at any other time in history.”
Furthermore, to explain his vote against, he indicated that "sanctions are a series of tools in our broad efforts to adopt democracy and promote respect for human rights in Cuba ... That is why we oppose this resolution."
Fomsbee also took the opportunity to demand that independent human rights experts be sent to the island “who would help advance respect for human rights, including freedom of expression, freedom of religion or belief, and the freedom to peacefully assemble ... Some of these applications have been pending for 10 years.”
Finally, the diplomat recognized “the challenges faced by the Cuban people” and explained that "the sanctions include exemptions with respect to imports of food, medicine and other humanitarian goods to Cuba. ... The United States continues to be one of Cuba's main trading partners," he concluded.
Embargo or blockade?
Although the word "blockade" has become popular to describe the situation between The U.S. States and Cuba, according to the Oxford encyclopedia of public international law, it would imply an act of war, specifically a "war operation aimed at preventing ships or planes of all countries from countries, enemy or neutral, enter or leave certain ports, airports or coastal areas that belong to or are under the control of an enemy country." This which would mean using the army to prevent any country from coming into contact in this case with Cuba.
The situation of the trade embargo is different, since it prohibits North American companies or foreign companies based in the United States from establishing commercial relations with Cuba. It was established to prevent business from being done with properties stolen by the Cuban government from American companies and citizens.
The embargo was applied after the Cuban Revolution, when Fidel Castro nationalized many foreign companies that were on the island, many of which were North American companies. In other words, overnight, the new Cuban dictator was left with assets that were owned by companies in the United States. As for the definition of an embargo, it consists of a series of economic, financial and commercial sanctions, by which the purchase and sale of merchandise with Cuba is restricted.
