The UN Votes on Cuba, Continued Crisis, and A Way to Support
Last week, in our U.S.-Cuba News Brief, we highlighted the critical failure at Cuba’s Antonio Guiteras power plant that led to the collapse of the island’s electrical grid, leaving 10 million people without power and impacting access for many. Despite restoration efforts, outages continued before power gradually returned, with 80 percent now reportedly restored.
The United Nations General Assembly voted to condemn the US economic embargo 187-2 on Cuba for the 32nd year in a row. The United States and Israel were the only two countries that voted against the condemnation. Moldova abstained. General Assembly resolutions are not binding, but they reflect the prevailing international consensus.
CEDA’s Executive Director María José Espinosa commented to the Center for International Policy: “As a policy, the U.S. embargo on Cuba is an epic failure. Cubans are no more empowered, no closer to achieving democracy than they were in February of 1962. Instead, the embargo has ensured Cubans face a daily struggle to meet their basic needs, without pushing the Cuban government toward political reform. Every year, the UN vote highlights that the U.S. is completely alone in its mission to punish the Cuban people as a means to an end.”
After the vote, US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller fielded strongly worded questions (starting at 47:30) from reporters due to the vote. Argentinian President Javier Milei fired his Foreign Minister Diana Mondino for her vote to condemn the embargo. After her firing, President Milei’s office stated Argentina was "categorically opposed to the Cuban dictatorship," and mentioned: Argentina “is going through a period of profound changes and this new stage requires that our diplomatic corps reflect in each decision the values of freedom, sovereignty and individual rights that characterize Western democracies."
TODAY, November 1, all donations to CEDA will be directed to our friends at ReglaSOUL, an Afro-Caribbean sustainable agriculture organization mobilizing donations and supplies for families and farmers affected by the blackouts and hurricane.
Donate here TODAY to support ReglaSOUL as they work to provide supplies and aid to affected families.
In Cuba
Miami Herald | Cuba’s Communist Party fires another senior official close to leader Díaz-Canel
Cuba’s Communist Party dismissed Vice Prime Minister Jorge Luis Perdomo Di-Lella, allegedly a close ally of President Miguel Díaz-Canel, as part of an anti-corruption campaign targeting private businesses. Perdomo’s removal follows similar actions against former Economy Minister Alejandro Gil and coincides with investigations into the business activities of Perdomo’s brother, Yoel, who runs the online supermarket Tuambia.com. The crackdown reflects growing tensions within the government. Díaz-Canel’s leadership faces additional challenges as public criticism over the government’s time response to Hurricane Oscar, compounding existing political and economic pressures.
AP | Mexican fuel flows to Cuba as the island faces blackouts and the loss of Russian and Venezuelan oil
As Cuba faces blackouts and a worsening economic crisis, Mexico has delivered nearly half a million barrels of crude oil and diesel within just a few days, according to oil shipment data shared with The Associated Press on Thursday. This aid arrives as shipments of Russian and Venezuelan oil, which have long sustained the island, have significantly dwindled, making Mexico one of Cuba’s few remaining lifelines.
“Mexico now is key because Venezuela has dropped its supplies to Cuba, Russian oil it’s nowhere to be seen,” said Jorge Piñon, senior research fellow at the University of Texas at Austin’s Energy Center, which tracks the shipments. “And so today, Mexico’s oil deliveries to Cuba are extremely important.”
On October 23, 2024, Amnesty International declared political dissident Félix Navarro, independent journalist and Dama de Blanco Sayli Navarro, 11J protester Roberto Pérez Fonseca and activist Luis Robles as prisoners of conscience.
US-Cuba Relations
Reuters | US policy toward Cuba hangs in balance as presidential election looms
Cubans are closely watching the U.S. presidential election, as its outcome could significantly impact the island’s struggling economy. Both candidates, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, have signaled they will maintain a tough stance on Cuba. Trump’s previous presidency reversed Obama-era efforts at normalization and reclassified Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism, exacerbating economic hardships under the U.S. embargo. Analysts like former diplomat Carlos Alzugaray warn that another Trump term could worsen conditions, while a Harris presidency might offer some relief, though no guarantees exist. Many Cubans, like Libia Morales, hope for policies that ease restrictions, fearing Trump’s plan to eliminate Biden’s parole program, which has allowed Cubans with U.S. sponsors to enter legally.
AP News | UN General Assembly condemns the US economic embargo of Cuba for a 32nd year
The U.N. General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to condemn the U.S. economic embargo on Cuba for the 32nd consecutive year, with a vote of 187-2, only the U.S. and Israel opposing it. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez criticized the Biden administration's policies, linking them to a recent blackout exacerbated by Hurricane Oscar, and expressed hope for a change in U.S. leadership that might end the embargo. He argued that U.S. claims of supporting the Cuban people were insincere, especially given the economic hardships and food shortages Cuba faces. It’s important to highlight that in the previous year, the U.N. saw similar results, with only the U.S. and Israel opposing the resolution to end the embargo on Cuba. Notably, in October 2016, the U.S. government chose to abstain from voting against the annual U.N. resolution for the first time. Then-U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power, explained that “the resolution voted on today is a perfect example of why the U.S. policy of isolation toward Cuba was not working – or worse, how it was actually undermining the very goals it set out to achieve. Instead of isolating Cuba, as President Obama has repeatedly said, our policy isolated the United States.” The embargo, originally imposed in 1960, has been a longstanding point of contention, and while U.S. officials assert that sanctions target human rights abuses in Cuba, Rodríguez highlighted significant economic losses suffered under the current administration. He expressed Cuba's willingness to engage in dialogue with the next U.S. president while reaffirming the country’s commitment to socialism and independence.
BBC | Argentina's Milei fires foreign minister for opposing US embargo on Cuba
Argentina’s President Javier Milei has fired Foreign Minister Diana Mondino after the country voted to lift the US embargo on Cuba at the UN, breaking with previous alignments with the US and Israel. Mondino is replaced by Gerardo Werthein, the ambassador to Washington. Milei’s administration emphasizes a strong opposition to the Cuban government and a foreign policy focused on human rights and democracy. This dismissal reflects internal tensions and a shift toward a more confrontational international stance, particularly regarding human rights issues.
Chargé d'Affaires Benjamin Ziff Concludes His Mission in Havana
The diplomat Benjamin G. Ziff, Chargé d'Affaires at the United States Embassy in Cuba, concluded his mission in Havana and bid farewell with a video in which he shared part of his experience on the Caribbean island. Ziff replaced Timothy Zuñiga-Brown in Havana in July 2022.
Cuba’s Foreign Relations
Tehran Times | Deputy health minister, Cuban envoy hold meeting
Iran and Cuba are strengthening their bilateral ties ahead of the 19th Joint Economic Committee Meeting in Havana, where several agreements are expected to be signed. Officials emphasized the importance of cooperation, despite U.S. sanctions that have complicated life for both nations. Upcoming initiatives include participation by Iranian knowledge-based companies in a Havana exhibition and a visit by Cuba’s ICT minister to Iran. Both countries highlighted their joint efforts in vaccine development during the COVID-19 pandemic and criticized U.S. sanctions for hindering their international collaborations. Iran also underscored its advancements in biological sciences and its partnerships with nations like Cuba, Senegal, and Uzbekistan.
Recommended Readings, Viewings, and Events
Nov 7 | Virtual Event | New Books in Cuban Studies
The virtual event features a discussion with Dr. Paloma Duong and Dr. Jennifer L. Lambe, celebrating the release of their recent books that delve into Cuban history, politics, culture, and media. Dr. Duong, author of “Portable Postsocialisms: New Cuban Mediascapes After the End of History”, and Dr. Lambe, author of “The Subject of Revolution: Between Political and Popular Culture in Cuba”, presents insights from their works. The event also will include commentary from Dr. Walfrido Dorta Sanchez, Assistant Professor of Spanish Studies at Susquehanna University, followed by an engaging Q&A session with the audience.
Responsible Statecraft | How the Cuba Lobby Lost Its Juice by William LeoGrande
The Florida-based Cuban American voting contingent is now a solid GOP bloc, and Democrats know it’s not worth fighting for anymore.
Americas Quarterly | Why Cuba Is in the Dark by Javier Corrales
Javier Corrales, Amherst College political science professor and the author of Autocracy Rising, argues that without inclusive property rights and political reforms, Cuba’s state-centric approach will continue to fail, keeping the country in the dark. Corrales contends that Cuba’s ongoing energy crisis is symptomatic of a much deeper, systemic economic crisis, worsened by long-standing governmental policies that restrict private enterprise and property rights. He contends that while U.S. sanctions have had an impact, the deeper issues lie in Cuba’s internal policies, which prioritize state control over wealth generation, prevent private sector growth, and neglect essential infrastructure. Cuba’s economic model, coupled with lopsided investments—such as prioritizing tourism over critical sectors—leaves Cuba unable to generate sufficient revenue or pay for necessary imports.
El País | Florida’s Cuban-American voters: A story of Republican love and Trump fervor by Carla Gloria Colomé
According to the Florida International University 2024 Poll, 68% of this electorate plans to vote for the Republican candidate, doubling the figure he received in 2016.
Print Mag: Cuban Sci-Fi and Hope for the Future by Steven Heller
Cuban American artist Edel Rodriguez is “best known for his ubiquitous Trump illustrations as posters and magazine covers. However, there is another side to Rodriquez’s powerful art: his book covers for authors Yoss (José Miguel Sánchez Gómez) and Agustín de Rojas (1949–2011), the patron saint of Cuban science fiction.”
The views and opinions expressed by authors are their own and articles do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of CEDA.
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