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Calls Intensify to Lift the Cuban Trade Embargo Amid Ongoing Hardships

2024-12-21 02:41:17.810000

As the international community continues to condemn the U.S. economic blockade on Cuba, recent discussions have highlighted the severe hardships faced by the Cuban population due to the embargo. On October 30, 2024, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) voted overwhelmingly to condemn the blockade, with 187 countries supporting the resolution, while only the United States and Israel voted against it, and Moldova abstained [65835df5]. This marks the thirty-second consecutive year that Cuba has introduced such a resolution, reflecting a growing international consensus against the blockade, which has been in place for 65 years since its inception under President John F. Kennedy in 1962 [65835df5]. The resolution emphasizes principles of sovereign equality, non-intervention, and freedom of trade, highlighting the detrimental effects of the blockade on the Cuban populace, including severe shortages of food, medicine, and fuel, as well as daily blackouts and rampant inflation [65835df5].

Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla highlighted the blockade's staggering economic toll, stating it has cost Cuba over $1.6 trillion [a5cdb976]. He criticized the Biden administration's approach to the embargo and expressed hope for change with the upcoming U.S. presidential election [36f5bbda]. Rodríguez pointed to the blockade's role in exacerbating Cuba's recent power outages and economic struggles, particularly following the devastation caused by Hurricane Oscar [65835df5]. He concluded his remarks with a passionate call to action, stating, 'Let Cuba live!' which was met with applause from the assembly [a5cdb976].

In a recent analysis, Lissa Weinmann argued for the immediate lifting of the embargo, noting that the U.S. and Cuba began normalization ten years ago, but progress was rolled back during Donald Trump's presidency [5eee09dc]. She emphasized that only Congress has the authority to end the embargo, while Senator Marco Rubio has supported punitive measures against Cuba [5eee09dc]. The analysis points out that the embargo has led to a significant population loss, with over half a million Cuban migrants leaving the country since Trump’s first term, and it has resulted in severe economic hardships for the island [5eee09dc].

Weinmann also highlighted the potential benefits of lifting the embargo, estimating it could generate $1.6 billion in food and medical exports and create 20,000 jobs in the U.S. [5eee09dc]. Furthermore, she noted that companies could collaborate with Cuban scientists on medical advances, fostering a more productive relationship between the two nations [5eee09dc].

U.S. Deputy Ambassador Paul Folmsbee defended the embargo as a means to promote democracy and human rights, emphasizing the need for the Cuban government to adhere to its human rights obligations [36f5bbda]. In contrast, Cuban Ambassador Ernesto Soberón Guzmán rebutted U.S. claims, highlighting human rights issues within the U.S. and the blockade's violation of Cuban rights [a5cdb976]. The vote tied the record for support first reached in 2019 and again in 2023, indicating a significant global consensus against the embargo [36f5bbda]. Representatives from various Caribbean nations expressed solidarity with Cuba, condemning U.S. actions as violations of international law [65835df5]. Russia has described U.S. policy as a relic of the Cold War, affecting not only Cuba but also 200 other countries [65835df5]. Although UNGA resolutions are non-binding, they highlight the ongoing debate over the effectiveness and morality of economic sanctions as a tool of foreign policy [36f5bbda]. As the international community continues to voice its opposition, the future of U.S.-Cuba relations remains uncertain amidst calls for lifting the embargo and fostering dialogue [36f5bbda].

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