The consequences of the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States government against Cuba were denounced on Tuesday by various regional and multilateral organizations during a United Nations General Assembly debate on a draft resolution calling for the immediate end to this hostile policy.
At the start of the session, the representative of Singapore, speaking on behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), stated that demanding an immediate end to the U.S. blockade against the island represents a collective act of consistency in support of a multilateral order based on rules, rather than on the use of force or coercive pressure.
The regional bloc expressed particular concern regarding the situation of the Cuban people, who face disruptions in the energy sector that hinder the exercise of their basic human rights.
It noted that over 100,000 patients — a large proportion of whom are children — are currently awaiting surgical procedures, with the very survival of some threatened by the existing restrictions.
The delegation of Uganda, speaking on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), also joined the call for the lifting of the U.S. blockade against Cuba.
Reflecting the organization’s position, the African nation expressed deep concern over the measures adopted by Washington, which it described as an unprecedented naval blockade with no basis in international law.
Furthermore, Uganda condemned the extent to which these measures expand the extraterritorial effects of the blockade — impacting not only the Cuban people but also third countries — thereby demonstrating that this is not merely a bilateral issue.
Additionally, the delegation urged the international body to mobilize efforts to prevent any military intervention, which would constitute a violation of the current global order. The Ugandan representative concluded by reiterating the commitment of both their country and the bloc to cooperate in upholding multilateralism and defending international forums where differences can be resolved peacefully.
At the regional level, the representative of Uruguay — speaking on behalf of the Group of 77 and China (G-77) — highlighted the significance of Cuba as a key link for South-South cooperation. Consequently, they proposed not only an immediate end to the U.S. blockade but also the removal of Cuba from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism.
The South American diplomat, representing the largest bloc within the United Nations, expressed concern regarding the humanitarian consequences of these sanctions and the obstacles they create for achieving sustainable development goals.
Furthermore, they illustrated how these actions pose an untenable threat to the principles of free trade and the conduct of relations between nations.
In doing so, they conveyed the solidarity of the group — and of Uruguay in particular — with the Cuban people, while reiterating that imposing such conditions on state-to-state relations for political reasons is entirely unjustifiable.
Speaking on behalf of the African Group, Namibia joined the previous statements in support of the Cuban resolution, while recalling the island’s support for and participation in national liberation struggles across the continent, as well as in the fight against apartheid.
The representative for the African Group noted that such stances run counter to the rules governing free trade between nations.
The diplomat further indicated that their country would vote in favor of the Cuban draft resolution, and emphasized that respect for sovereignty and the principle of non-interference should serve as the guiding compass for bilateral relations.
[ SOURCE: AGENCIA CUBANA DE NOTICIAS ]
