Cuba Denounces US Provocative Harassment At UN

Cuba’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ernesto Soberón Guzmán, on Friday denounced a US- organized event against the island, scheduled to take place at UN headquarters on October 19.

In a statement issued by the Cuban Government and made available to our correspondent, Guzman warned that this is part of an escalating campaign of political and diplomatic harassment intended to weaken international support for the Cuban resolution against the blockade, which is set to be considered on October 27 and 28, 2026.

Speaking to the press accredited to the United Nations, Soberón described Washington’s initiative as a politically motivated maneuver, one that seeks to use UN facilities to promote a hostile narrative against a sovereign member state.

The diplomat stated that the United States is attempting to shift the focus away from the debate on the economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed on Cuba, steering it instead toward a political confrontation—all while intensifying sanctions and exerting direct pressure on other governments to alter their positions ahead of the upcoming vote.

Soberón reported that the U.S. Permanent Mission has scheduled an event for Monday, October 19, titled “Cuba Libre”. He questioned both the organization and the content of the event, arguing that it represents an abuse of United Nations facilities to advance Washington’s political objectives against Cuba.

The Cuban representative showed journalists a copy of the invitation and the concept note for the activity—documents that, he explained, reached the Cuban delegation even though they had not been invited.

He specifically took issue with the closed nature of the meeting, the decision to keep the names of the panelists secret, the restriction of press access to a select group, and the fact that attendees are barred from speaking or expressing their own views.

“What is the reason for so much secrecy?” Soberón asked questioning why the organizers are not disclosing in advance the identities of those who will participate in the event.

The diplomat argued that the intent is to create a media spectacle in which the organizers control the contributions and the dissemination of their messages, rather than fostering an open exchange of views.

The Cuban Permanent Representative warned that, in his delegation’s view, the US initiative contradicts the principles that should govern the use of United Nations facilities.

Specifically, he referred to administrative instruction ST/AI/2019/4, which concerns the use of the Organization’s premises, and maintained that any events held there must be consistent with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.

Soberón also pointed to a double standard on the part of Washington, noting that the United States has accumulated outstanding contributions to the regular UN budget, while simultaneously allocating public resources to organize activities that—as he alleged—have no connection to the Organization’s official agenda.

He emphasized that, while promoting an event directed against Cuba, Washington is attempting to sidestep the discussion of the specific item on the General Assembly’s agenda concerning the country: the need to end the economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by the United States.

A key element of his complaint was the intensification of US diplomatic pressure on countries that traditionally support the Cuban resolution against the blockade.

Soberón stated that Secretary of State Marco Rubio has reached out directly to heads of state and government in an effort to shift their respective countries positions ahead of the upcoming vote.

The Cuban representative characterized these efforts as a campaign of intimidation and political coercion, aimed at interfering with the sovereign decisions of United Nations member states.

He asserted that the event on October 19 is not an isolated initiative, but rather part of a broader offensive that includes bilateral pressure, diplomatic harassment, and communication strategies designed to diminish support for the Cuban-sponsored draft resolution.

During his remarks, the diplomat also denounced the consequences of US measures targeting Cuba’s fuel supply and foreign trade.

He recalled that, on January 29, 2026, the U.S. president signed an executive order that includes measures against countries …that supply oil to Cuba, and attributed the drastic reduction in fuel shipments to the island to this policy.

According to figures presented by Soberón, Cuba has received only one oil tanker from Russia—as humanitarian aid—over the last ten months.

He further reported that approximately 7,000 containers bound for Cuba remain in international ports, as shipping companies refuse to transport them for fear of U.S. sanctions.

The Cuban representative linked these difficulties to measures adopted by Washington on May 1, 2026, which, he explained, expand the threat of sanctions against companies and countries that maintain commercial relations with Cuba.

In closing, Soberón reaffirmed the core message of the Cuban position which is “Cuba is not a threat. The blockade is.”