Statement by Permanent Representative Vassily Nebenzia at UNGA Meeting on US Embargo Against Cuba
Distinguished Madam President,
Distinguished Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla,
The Russian Federation aligns itself with the statement on behalf of the Group of Friends in defense of the UN Charter. In our national capacity, we would like to note the following.
We thank the UN Secretary-General for the updated report on this agenda item, which reflects the broad consensus in favor of lifting US sanctions against Cuba.
Russia, along with the overwhelming majority of the international community, firmly calls for the immediate lifting of the unlawful US embargo against Cuba.
Washington's unilateral restrictive measures against Havana grossly violate the fundamental principles and norms of international law and undermine cooperation to address global challenges. The sanctions war unleashed by the US against Cuba to achieve its main goal – which is the overthrow of the government they don’t favor – is a striking example of perfidious interference in the internal affairs of an independent state.
At the humanitarian level, the embargo is the main barrier to the full realization of human rights in Cuba, first and foremost in the areas of health care, education, energy, and food security. The economic blockade of Cuba is hindering the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and limiting Havana's ability to invest in the most promising sectors of the economy, to support the social sphere, and service its external debt. Years of illegitimate sanctions have hampered the functioning of the national financial sector and prevented local economic operators from taking full advantage of the opportunities offered by global financial markets and relevant institutions.
The enormous losses to the island's economy caused by the US embargo speak for themselves: from March 2024 to February 2025, the damage dealt by the blockade increased by 49% compared to the previous period and amounted to more than $7.5 billion, which exceeds the damages caused to the country in 2023-2024 by $2.5 billion. If it were not for the blockade, Cuba's GDP would have grown by more than 9% in 2024, which would have been one of the highest growth rates in the Western Hemisphere.
The extraterritorial application of sanctions regimes is also illegal. In interstate relations there is an enshrined principle of responsibility of “third” countries, their authorities, citizens, and businesses for maintaining and developing mutually beneficial commercial and economic ties with those against whom restrictive measures are being applied. In fact, we are talking about interference in internal affairs of sovereign states, as well as about an essentially neo-colonial practice of coercing into compliance with illegal sanctions imposed by other states.
Despite the pressure exerted by Washington, Havana continues to pursue its sovereign political course. Cuba is an active player in the international arena, and enjoys a great deal of well-deserved respect.
We view it unacceptable to go on with the pernicious practice of labeling Cuba, inter alia by accusing the country of human trafficking when it comes to providing much-needed assistance by Cuban medical specialists who work in difficult conditions, primarily in Latin America, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific region.
It seems completely absurd that Cuba remains on the list of “State Sponsors of Terrorism,” which essentially is nothing but another illegitimate tool for exerting political and economic pressure on the Cuban government. Havana has an impeccable reputation as an active participant in international cooperation on counterterrorism.
In keeping with our consistent position and guided by the fundamental principles of the UN Charter, we will once again support the draft resolution demanding the ending of the blockade without any preconditions.
Thank you.
