--- title: "The debate over the US embargo of Cuba" summary: "The US government and the UN General Assembly disagree about the embargo of Cuba, its aims, its effects and its name." published: 2026-10-29 reviewed: 2026-10-29 canonical: "https://cuba.timothybrits.co.za/learn/the-debate" license: "CC BY 4.0" --- # The debate over the US embargo of Cuba > The US government says its Cuba policy aims at freedom and human rights, and at the Cuban government [1]. In October 2026, 130 countries voted for a UN resolution calling for the embargo to end, and 17 voted against [3]. South Africa's government says the embargo harms the livelihoods of ordinary Cubans [9]. ## What people disagree about The US [embargo](https://cuba.timothybrits.co.za/glossary#embargo) restricts trade, travel and money transfers with Cuba. People disagree about its aims, its effects and its name. ## The case for the embargo A June 2025 White House memorandum describes Cuba as run by "a Communist regime." It says dissidents and peaceful protesters are arbitrarily detained and that there is no free press. [1] The memorandum says the US should "channel funds toward the Cuban people and away from a regime." One of its goals is to support the embargo and oppose international efforts to end it. [1] It also lists goals such as more internet access, a free press, free enterprise and lawful travel for Cubans. [1] An executive order signed on 1 May 2026 says the Cuban government's policies are an "unusual and extraordinary threat" to US national security. [2] The order also names responsibility for serious human rights abuse in Cuba, and for corruption related to Cuba, as grounds for sanctioning a foreign person. [2] A State Department report released on 20 July 2026 describes Cuba's one-party state as a multifaceted threat to US national security and regional stability, according to UN News. [8] In the UN General Assembly debate in October 2026, US Ambassador Mike Waltz said: "There is no blockade." [3] OFAC, the US sanctions agency, says the delivery of food, medicine and medical devices to Cuba stays exempt under the rules. [5] Ricardo Torres Pérez, a Cuban economist writing for a Columbia University project, says internal factors are as decisive as sanctions. He lists the loss of Venezuelan oil, the effect of Covid-19 on tourism and tighter US sanctions as shocks that hit an economy with existing weaknesses. [7] Seven countries voted against the resolution in October 2025: the US, Israel, Argentina, Hungary, Paraguay, North Macedonia and Ukraine. [4] Several countries that abstained in October 2025 gave their own reasons. Poland, speaking for Czechia, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, pointed to Cuba's support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Romania made a similar point. [4] ## The case against the embargo In October 2025, 165 countries voted for ending the embargo, 7 voted against and 12 abstained. The year before, in 2024, the vote was 187 to 2, with 1 abstention. [4] In October 2026, the vote was 130 to 17, with 25 abstentions. UN News called this the weakest backing in 20 years. [3] The full record is in [How the UN votes on the US embargo of Cuba](https://cuba.timothybrits.co.za/learn/un-votes). Cuba presented the resolution. It cited UN Charter principles including sovereign equality, non-interference in internal affairs and freedom of trade and navigation. [3] Support for the resolution peaked at 191 votes in 2015 and 2017. [3] Cuba's foreign minister, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, told the Assembly: "Cuba is not a threat, the blockade is." [3] In August 2026, independent experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council said energy, transport, irrigation and basic services were failing at the same time. They said this threatens the rights to health, life and food, and that uncollected waste in parts of Havana raises the risk of disease outbreaks. They also said food must never be used as an instrument of political pressure. [8] In March 2025, South Africa told the UN that the US demands advance cash payment for Cuba's imports of American goods, including basic foods. [9] A Congressional Research Service report confirms that exports of farm goods and medicine to Cuba need a licence and either cash in advance or third-country financing. [6] In August 2026, Parliament's international relations committee said the embargo continues to harm Cuba's development and limits its cooperation with the international community. [11] The UN resolution urges states with similar laws to repeal them. [3] On 24 September 2026, South Africa's minister Ronald Lamola said unilateral coercive measures harm third countries. [10] ## The word "blockade" Cuba and South Africa use "blockade." [10] The UN resolution says "embargo." [3] The US government says there is no blockade and calls its policy an economic embargo. [1] ## What the sources do not settle The sources we found do not measure how much of Cuba's crisis comes from US measures and how much from Cuban policy. Torres Pérez names both as causes. Cuba's foreign minister says the blockade is the threat. ## Main counterarguments - Ricardo Torres Pérez, a Cuban economist writing for a Columbia University project, says the current academic consensus points to inertia, state control of production and limited openness to the private sector as equally decisive causes of Cuba's crisis. He includes US sanctions among the causes, saying they worsened weaknesses that were already there [7]. - Independent experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council said in August 2026 that new US measures threaten the rights to health, life and food. They said a State Department report offered no concrete evidence that Cuba supports terrorism or subversion [8]. ## Sources 1. National Security Presidential Memorandum/NSPM-5. The White House, 30 June 2025. https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/06/national-security-presidential-memorandum-nspm-5/ (US government) 2. Imposing Sanctions on Those Responsible for Repression in Cuba and for Threats to United States National Security and Foreign Policy (Executive Order 14404). The White House, 1 May 2026. https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/05/imposing-sanctions-on-those-responsible-for-repression-in-cuba-and-for-threats-to-united-states-national-security-and-foreign-policy/ (US government) 3. Backing for UN call to end Cuba embargo falls to 20-year low. UN News, 28 October 2026. https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/10/1168694 (United Nations) 4. Amid shifting alliances, General Assembly demands end to US embargo on Cuba. UN News, 29 October 2025. https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/10/1166213 (United Nations) 5. OFAC Alert: Expanded Sanctions Against Cuba. US Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control, 29 September 2026. https://ofac.treasury.gov/media/937026/download (US government) 6. Cuba Sanctions: Legislative Restrictions Limiting the Normalization of Relations (CRS Report R43888). Congressional Research Service (via EveryCRSReport.com), 4 May 2018. https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/R43888.html (US government) 7. The Economic Crisis in Cuba, Its Causes, and Migration.. Cuba Capacity Building Project, Columbia University, 6 August 2025. https://horizontecubano.law.columbia.edu/news/economic-crisis-cuba-its-causes-and-migration (Academic) 8. Cuba: Independent experts condemn new US sanctions as humanitarian crisis deepens. UN News, 6 August 2026. https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/08/1168094 (United Nations) 9. Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba: Report of the Secretary-General (A/80/83). United Nations General Assembly, 14 August 2025. https://documents.un.org/api/symbol/access?s=A/80/83&l=en&t=pdf (United Nations) 10. UNGA81 General Debate: South Africa's National Statement by Minister Ronald Lamola, Head of Delegation. Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), 24 September 2026. https://dirco.gov.za/unga81-general-debate-south-africas-national-statement-by-minister-ronald-lamola-head-of-delegation-on-restoring-trust-managing-transformation-a-united-nations-that-delivers-for/ (South African government) 11. Committee on IR Reiterates South Africa's Call for Lifting of US Embargo and Unilateral Measures Against Cuba. Parliament of South Africa, 12 August 2026. https://www.parliament.gov.za/press-releases/media-statement-committee-ir-reiterates-south-africas-call-lifting-us-embargo-and-unilateral-measures-against-cuba (South African government) ## What you can do - [Ask DIRCO for SA's position](https://cuba.timothybrits.co.za/act/write-dirco-sa-position) - [Write a letter to the editor](https://cuba.timothybrits.co.za/act/letter-to-the-editor)