The United Nations General Assembly has once again pressed the United States to end its longstanding embargo on Cuba.
In a vote taken during this year’s session, 187 member states supported a non-binding resolution calling for lifting the economic, commercial, and financial restrictions on Cuba.
The resolution, titled “Necessity of Ending the Economic, Commercial, and Financial Embargo Imposed by the United States of America Against Cuba,” saw only two votes against it, from the U.S. and Israel, with Moldova abstaining.
This annual resolution, introduced in 1992, has highlighted the U.S.’s increasingly isolated stance regarding Cuba. The embargo was initially imposed in 1960, soon after the late Cuban leader Fidel Castro rose to power following the Cuban revolution.
Calls to End Punitive Measures
The General Assembly’s resolution emphasized the “sovereign equality of states” and “non-interference” principles, further underscoring the need for free international trade and navigation. The Assembly reiterated the need for countries to avoid imposing restrictive laws on trade, in line with the UN Charter and international law, which affirm “freedom of trade and navigation.”
“[The General Assembly] once again urges States that have and continue to apply such laws and measures to take the steps necessary to repeal or invalidate them as soon as possible in accordance with their legal regime,” the resolution stated. This marks a continued push to encourage legislative shifts that would ease Cuba’s reintegration into global economic frameworks.
The resolution also recalled the changes made by former U.S. President Barack Obama in 2015 and 2016, which modified the application of certain aspects of the embargo. “This contrasts with the measures applied since 2017 to reinforce its implementation,” the Assembly noted, referring to a reinforcement of restrictions under subsequent U.S. administrations.
With this resolution, the General Assembly has included the issue on the agenda for next year’s session, signaling an ongoing commitment to challenging the embargo.
Somalia Mission Transformation
On the same day, the UN Security Council approved a resolution transforming the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) into the UN Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS).
This two-year transition period, to begin Friday, November 1, follows a proposal from the Somali government. UNSOM’s activities will be transferred to the UN Country Team in Somalia, with the new UNTMIS mission expected to complete its initial phase by October 2025.
The Security Council unanimously adopted the resolution, designating October 2026 as the target for terminating UNTMIS’s mandate.
This transition includes a range of initiatives in support of Somalia’s state-building priorities, including constitutional reviews and election efforts. The Council also emphasized the importance of promoting human rights, the rule of law, and justice, as well as supporting Somalia’s security sector.
Colombia Peace Mission Extended
The Security Council took additional action, voting to extend the mandate of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia until October 2025.
Established in 2017, the Verification Mission was designed to oversee specific aspects of the 2016 peace agreement between the Colombian government and the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC-EP), which ended more than five decades of civil war. This extension will allow the UN to continue monitoring Colombia’s progress toward the peace agreement’s goals over the next year.
These UN actions reflect a broader push for diplomacy and conflict resolution, aiming to support national sovereignty while encouraging international cooperation on economic and humanitarian fronts.
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