Cuba Accuses US of Coercion Ahead of UN Vote on Sanctions

According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, Cuba has condemned the United States for applying pressure on countries to vote against a resolution concerning the lifting of trade sanctions against Havana. The resolution is slated for a vote at the United Nations General Assembly in late October. This condemnation comes from reports by the Mehr News Agency, citing Xinhua News Agency.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez posted on the social media platform ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) that U.S. official Marco Rubio appears ‘concerned and anxious about another defeat at the UN.’ Rodríguez alleged that Rubio is ‘applying pressure and blackmailing the leaders of various countries and governments’ to compel them to change their votes.

Rodríguez further stated that Rubio, through repeated falsehoods and new actions, is attempting to conceal the collective punishment imposed upon the Cuban people. The U.S. Department of State indicated that Rubio had a phone conversation with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele on Tuesday. During this call, Rubio reportedly urged Bukele to align with the United States and its like-minded partners in order to ‘advance shared priorities at the United Nations.’