UN vote on Cuba embargo sees sharp drop in support, only 130 nations back lift

Only 130 UN member states voted to end the U.S. embargo on Cuba at the October 30 General Assembly, a sharp drop from the more than 180 that supported the measure for most of the past decade.

Vote Outcome

The resolution, formally titled “Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba,” recorded 130 votes in favour, 25 abstentions and 17 against.

Shift in Support

The decline follows a concerted U.S. diplomatic push, described by observers as pressure from the Trump administration, that succeeded in swaying several nations. Latin American states that recently grew closer to Washington after the January 2026 U.S. operation in Venezuela – where Marines took President Nicolás Maduro to the United States – changed their positions; Costa Rica, Ecuador, Argentina and Colombia all moved from supporting the resolution to either abstaining or voting no. European countries also shifted: Germany and Italy, for the first time in years, chose to abstain, citing Cuba’s ties to Russia, which Ukraine and Poland highlighted as bolstering Moscow’s war in Ukraine.

India’s Position

Despite these changes, the Group of 77 and non‑aligned nations, including India, kept backing the call to lift the embargo. New Delhi’s statement emphasized “dialogue and diplomacy” and echoed a BRICS declaration made a month earlier that warned of the humanitarian impact of the blockade. India’s consistent stance underscores its role in championing the concerns of smaller Global South countries against unilateral sanctions.

Context

UN votes on sanctions often reflect broader geopolitical alignments; when major powers apply pressure, smaller states may adjust their positions to avoid diplomatic or economic repercussions.