India Backs UN Vote to End US Embargo on Cuba Amid Heated Scenes

India voted in favour of a United Nations General Assembly resolution calling for an end to the U.S. economic, commercial, and financial embargo against Cuba. The 193-member General Assembly adopted the resolution on October 28 with 130 countries voting in favour, 17 against, and 25 abstaining.

Debate and Crisis

Delivering India's statement, Counsellor Soumya Nair said the restrictions hurt Cuba's sovereignty, progress, and development aspirations. She cited a UN report showing Cuba's health system faces shortages of over 60 percent of essential medicines, while food production has dropped by more than 50 percent in five years. Fuel export limits have also worsened the country's energy crisis, disrupting healthcare, education, water supplies, and transport. The vote followed high tensions at the UN hall, where a verbal duel occurred between U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz and Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, leading UNGA President Khalilur Rahman to suspend the session after Cuban diplomats approached the podium.

Context

The U.S. embargo against Cuba stems from a decades-long political and ideological divide that began after Fidel Castro took power in 1959. While the General Assembly has repeatedly voted against the embargo over the years, these resolutions are not legally binding.