Waltz and Cuban minister trade insults before UN vote on US embargo

The United Nations General Assembly is preparing to vote on a resolution that condemns the US economic embargo on Cuba. The measure is expected to pass by a wide margin, continuing a streak of 34 consecutive years where the body has called out Washington's maximum pressure policy. Last year, 165 member states voted in favor of the resolution, while seven voted against it and 12 abstained.

This year's vote arrives as tensions between Washington and Havana reach a new level of public friction. The Trump administration has intensified its campaign against the Cuban government, including threats of military intervention. President Donald Trump stated last week that US warships might stop in Cuba on their return from the Iran war.

The diplomatic clash came to a head on Tuesday on the floor of the General Assembly. US Ambassador Mike Waltz and Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez engaged in a shouting match while debating the text of the embargo resolution. Rodriguez walked down to the podium where Waltz was speaking and called the US envoy a liar. He requested a point of order from the presiding officer.

Waltz responded by telling the Cuban minister to move away from the podium. Security staff and personnel attempted to intervene as the two officials argued. Waltz said, This individual needs to back away from this podium. He’s not going to intimidate me in the United States of America. He added, You understand who you’re dealing with? This is America. Back up.

Rodriguez addressed the exchange on social media the same day. He noted that Waltz was speaking at the United Nations, not in a White House security meeting. He described the US government's actions as a desperate attempt to justify its economic aggression and criminal energy blockade.

This confrontation followed a similar incident a week earlier. Waltz and his Cuban counterpart, Ernesto Sobeon Guzman, had a dispute outside a US hosted panel. That event featured Cuban dissidents and former prisoners who alleged oppressive behavior by the island's government. These interactions mark a break from the traditional diplomatic decorum usually observed at the UN.

The US embargo against Cuba dates back to 1960. It was imposed after Fidel Castro's revolution toppled dictator Fulgencio Batista and nationalized properties owned by US citizens and corporations. Cuba has faced economic and financial difficulties for decades as a result.

The situation has worsened under the current administration. In late January, President Trump announced tariffs on any country that sells or provides oil to Cuba. This move effectively cut off fuel to the island. The shortage has led to widespread power outages that disrupt cooking, water supply, and internet and telephone services.

The General Assembly vote is scheduled for Wednesday. While the resolution is not legally binding, it serves as a reflection of global opinion on the US trade ban. It remains unclear if the Trump administration's overt campaign to influence the vote will result in more opposition or abstentions from key countries, including Western allies, than in previous years.