In the lead-up to the United Nations General Assembly vote on Cuba's resolution against the embargo, the United States' Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Juan Pablo Segura, issued a firm message to the Cuban regime: "It's time for reforms, not more talk."
Segura shared a post on his official X account featuring an image with the Department of State’s seal, captioned "Countering Cuba's resolution at the UN General Assembly," alongside a photo referencing Cuban political prisoners.
The message highlighted that "hundreds of political prisoners remain unjustly detained in Cuba." Segura accused the regime of exploiting the UN's annual embargo vote to excuse its refusal to implement political reforms.
Going further, Segura asserted that supporting Cuba's resolution is tantamount to endorsing dictatorship: "Backing the regime's charade resolution means rewarding tyranny and prolonging the suffering of these political prisoners."
US Intensifies Diplomatic Efforts Against Cuban Resolution
The message is the latest in a vigorous diplomatic campaign by Washington in the week leading up to the vote, scheduled for October 28.
On Thursday, Karin Sullivan, the Chargé d'Affaires at the US Embassy for Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean, and the OECS, penned an article urging Eastern Caribbean governments to oppose Cuba's resolution against the embargo. "Why do the lights go out? Because the incompetent regime puts itself first," Sullivan stated.
Cuban Government Faces Challenges Amid Pressure
Two days earlier, Segura had already warned that the regime is desperately clinging to power instead of adopting political and economic reforms to benefit the Cuban people.
"It uses its annual UN embargo vote to claim international support, allowing those in power to continue enriching themselves while exploiting their own people," he remarked on X.
He also accused the ruling elite of spending in a day what most Cubans earn in months, pointing to the military conglomerate GAESA as the center of a "kleptocracy" with $20 billion in illicit assets.
US pressure has visibly impacted the situation. Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel admitted on Wednesday, during his Radio Rebelde program, that "some people will change their vote because they are intimidated" by Washington's pressure.
Shift in International Support Looms
Germany, which has consistently supported Cuba's resolution since 2002, is considering a change in stance for the first time in 24 years. Earlier this month, German Secretary of State Géza Andreas von Geyr stated that their position "is still undecided."
Since 1992, Havana has annually submitted the resolution, which is not binding on the US Congress—the only body capable of altering the embargo. The resolution saw a historic drop in support in 2025, with 165 votes in favor, seven against, and 12 abstentions.
A coalition of over 1,000 Cuban democratic organizations, led by the Assembly of the Cuban Resistance and the UNPACU, has already called on democratic governments to reject or abstain from the upcoming vote on Tuesday.
Frequently Asked Questions About the UN Vote on Cuba's Resolution
Why is the United States opposing Cuba's resolution at the UN?
The United States opposes Cuba's resolution because it believes the Cuban regime uses the annual UN vote to avoid implementing necessary political reforms and to justify its governing methods.
What impact has the US pressure had on international support for Cuba's resolution?
US pressure has led some countries, like Germany, to reconsider their longstanding support for Cuba's resolution, indicating a potential shift in international alignment.
What is the significance of the annual UN vote on the embargo?
While the UN vote on the embargo is not legally binding on the US Congress, it serves as a symbolic measure of international opinion regarding US-Cuban relations and the embargo itself.