Today at 12:04
The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is mobilizing American diplomats to lobby against a United Nations resolution calling for the lifting of the decades-long trade embargo on Cuba. As one of its arguments, Washington is citing Havana’s support for Russia in its war against Ukraine.
This is stated in an internal State Department document reviewed by Reuters.
As part of the campaign, U.S. diplomats are informing countries that the Cuban government is actively supporting Russia’s war against Ukraine, and that up to 5,000 Cubans are fighting on the side of the aggressor state.
“After North Korea, Cuba is the largest supplier of foreign troops for Russian aggression, with an estimated 1,000–5,000 Cubans fighting in Ukraine,” reads a cable dated October 2 sent to dozens of U.S. missions.
A State Department spokesperson declined to provide more detailed information about the Cuban fighters but said that Washington is aware they are fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine.
“The Cuban regime has failed to protect its citizens from being used as pawns in Russia’s war against Ukraine,” the spokesperson said.
The cable also accuses the Cuban government of undermining democracy in the Western Hemisphere amid rising tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela — Cuba’s key political and economic ally.
In the message, U.S. diplomats urged governments to oppose a nonbinding U.N. General Assembly resolution calling on the United States to lift its long-standing trade embargo against Cuba.
The vote is expected to take place on Wednesday, October 8.
According to the cable, the resolution “incorrectly” blames the United States for Cuba’s problems, which are in fact caused by the island’s “own corruption and incompetence.”
The document adds that the goal of this initiative is to demonstrate the U.S. administration’s opposition by significantly reducing the number of “yes” votes at the U.N.
“‘No’ votes are preferred, but abstentions or non-voting are also helpful,” the cable states.
The authors of the document note that Washington needs “like-minded allies and partners” to advance this initiative.
The State Department said Cuba uses the annual U.N. resolution as a tool to portray itself as a victim and that it does not deserve the support of America’s democratic allies.
Since 1992, the U.N. General Assembly has adopted similar resolutions almost every year calling for an end to the embargo on Cuba. These resolutions are nonbinding. Last year, 187 countries voted in favor, with only the United States and Israel voting against.
It is worth noting that in September, a bipartisan group of U.S. senators introduced a bill to designate Russia and Belarus as state sponsors of terrorism over the abduction of Ukrainian children.
Ukraine has been raising the issue of designating Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism with Washington since 2022. Such a move would internationally isolate Moscow and compel the U.S. to impose additional restrictions on countries cooperating with the Kremlin.
The previous administration of President Biden rejected these demands, saying the designation would tie Washington’s hands in dealings with Russia overall and block any diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the war against Ukraine.
Read also: Russians Unable to Stop Ukrainian Strikes on Energy Facilities – Gen. Hodges
