Cuba has requested the UN General Assembly to discuss the US blockade, citing the island’s vulnerability to imminent threats. The debate, scheduled for Tuesday, aims to condemn the US government’s aggressive actions, including the threat of direct military aggression, as stated by Cuban official Pedro Luis Pedroso.
During the debate, Cuba plans to highlight the adverse effects of US restrictions on fuel supplies and the tightening economic blockade. These measures are deemed by Cuban authorities as genocidal acts, collective punishment, and violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. Pedroso likened the fuel supply restrictions to a naval blockade in practical terms.
The US decision to sanction fuel suppliers to Cuba earlier this year has drawn criticism for violating international law, particularly rules applicable during armed conflicts. Pedroso also pointed out that the US restrictions on humanitarian aid delivery further breach international laws, encompassing economic, political, and information-related dimensions, along with the potential for military aggression.
Emphasizing that Cuba poses no threat to the US, Pedroso expressed hope for a comprehensive and substantive debate at the UNGA to uphold the principles of the UN Charter. Havana seeks to reaffirm principles such as sovereign equality of states, respect for territorial integrity, political independence, non-interference in internal affairs, rejection of force, and peaceful dispute resolution.
