US escalates pressure on Cuba ahead of UNGA vote
Mike Waltz urges countries to focus on Havana's human rights record
The United States is ramping up pressure on Cuba as nations prepare to vote on an annual United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution during this week's debate, which aims to persuade Washington to lift its long-standing economic embargo. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has encouraged Cubans seeking political change to work with the CIA, while President Donald Trump has hinted at potential military action.
The U.S. is also urging countries to oppose the resolution, with Havana accusing Washington of threatening nations that do not align with its stance. Cuban officials have dismissed these efforts as desperation and accused the U.S. of blackmailing member states. President Trump's campaign rally comments suggest the U.S. intends to take action against Cuba shortly after returning from Iran.
The U.S. has openly called on Cubans to cooperate with the CIA to bring about political change, despite Cuba dismissing these entreaties as evidence of American desperation and mocking the CIA's "marketing" approach. The vote marks a crucial test of whether Washington's intensified pressure could weaken the international support and symbolic weight the annual resolution carries for Cuba, which has relied on it for decades.
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