During a special session of the United Nations General Assembly, U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz directly challenged the Cuban government, asserting that the real hardship faced by Cubans is not due to the American embargo, but rather the oppressive actions of their own leaders.
"Much has been said about a blockade today, and there is indeed a blockade before us: the relentless one imposed by the Cuban regime on its own people, decade after decade," Waltz declared to the assembly gathered in New York.
His remarks coincided with yet another nationwide power outage in Cuba, the third such collapse in 2026, which Waltz used to highlight the island's ongoing crisis.
"Sadly, Cuba is once again in darkness. A new blackout covers the entire island," he noted. "Yet, there's always light for the regime and the dictatorship. Right now, the Castro family compound is illuminated; they have electricity."
Regime's Misplaced Priorities
Waltz posed probing questions to the international community regarding the regime's priorities. "How is there no fuel for hospitals, but plenty for the Castro family's private jet? How can the president wear a Hermès tie, a Rolex, or use a Montblanc pen while the people starve?" he asked.
He further claimed that the Castro family owns 700 mansions across Cuba, Spain's Costa del Sol, and Moscow.
Refuting the Embargo Myth
The ambassador dismissed the official narrative of a U.S. blockade, emphasizing that Cuba receives humanitarian aid from countries like Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Spain, Mexico, Russia, Uruguay, the European Union, and the United Nations.
He mentioned a recent shipment of 750,000 barrels of oil to the island and highlighted that the U.S. provides over $100 million annually in humanitarian assistance, coordinated with the Vatican and the Catholic Church.
"There is no American blockade. The only embargo is the guillotine the regime holds over its citizens," Waltz concluded.
Focus on Political Prisoners
Waltz also addressed the plight of Cuban political prisoners, referencing individuals like artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, whose five-year sentence ends on July 9; musician Fernando Almadévez Rivera; rapper Miguel Castillo Pérez; poet Duanes León Tovero, serving a 14-year sentence; and brothers Jorge and Nadir Martín Perdomo, whose detention has been criticized by the United Nations.
"They are not violent. They carry no weapons. They bring flowers and write poetry and songs," Waltz stated.
Tense Exchanges with Cuban Foreign Minister
The session was marked by interruptions from Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, who attempted to halt Waltz's speech with procedural motions.
Rodríguez labeled Waltz a "liar" and claimed the UN "is not a Green Beret camp." However, the assembly's president rejected these objections, citing rules that prevent using such motions to debate speech content.
Resuming his speech, Waltz retorted, "The truth offends, and truth is not disrespect."
He further accused GAESA, a business conglomerate controlled by Cuba's military, of managing an $18 billion trust fund from which "not a penny reaches the Cuban people."
Waltz also condemned the regime for misappropriating the wages of doctors sent abroad and Cubans recruited to fight in Ukraine, stating, "That money ends up in the Castro family's pockets."
International Support Dwindles
At the session's conclusion, the General Assembly approved the embargo debate with 136 votes in favor, nine against, and 30 abstentions, a notable drop from the 165 votes Cuba secured in the October 2025 annual vote.
Waltz delivered a closing message to the global community: "Stand with the Cuban people, not with the regime that has bankrupted this nation. You cannot do both. It's time to choose."
Understanding the U.S. Position on Cuba
What is the main argument of the U.S. regarding the Cuban embargo?
The U.S. argues that the real blockade affecting Cubans is not the American embargo, but the oppressive measures imposed by the Cuban government itself.
How does the U.S. aid Cuba despite the embargo?
The U.S. provides over $100 million annually in humanitarian aid to Cuba, coordinated with entities like the Vatican and the Catholic Church.
What are the criticisms of the Cuban regime regarding resource allocation?
Critics argue that the Cuban regime prioritizes resources for the elite, such as the Castro family's private jet, over essential services like hospital fuel.