India has backed a United Nations General Assembly resolution calling for an end to the United States’ economic, commercial and financial embargo on Cuba, reiterating that the restrictions are affecting essential services and the country’s development prospects.
The 193-member UN General Assembly adopted the resolution on Wednesday, with 130 countries voting in favour, 17 opposing it and 25 abstaining. India urged the restrictions to be lifted at the earliest, saying this would help Cuba participate more fully in international cooperation and pursue its development goals.
India Calls for Dialogue and Multilateral Cooperation
Delivering India’s statement, Soumya Nair, Counsellor at India’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, said the General Assembly had repeatedly called for the embargo to end. She also highlighted the international body’s opposition to laws and regulations that extend beyond national borders and adversely affect the sovereignty, progress and prosperity of other countries.
Nair said India’s commitment to multilateralism was based on the belief that international challenges should be addressed through dialogue and diplomacy, in accordance with the UN Charter.
India reiterated its call for countries to refrain from introducing or applying such measures and to repeal or invalidate them in line with their international obligations.
Restrictions Affect Cuba’s Healthcare and Essential Services
Citing a report by the UN Secretary-General, Nair highlighted the reported effects of the embargo on Cuba’s economy and public services.
She said Cuba’s healthcare system was facing shortages of more than 60 per cent of essential medicines. Food production had also declined by over 50 per cent during the preceding five years, according to the figures cited in India’s statement.
Restrictions on fuel exports to Cuba have further aggravated the country’s ongoing energy crisis, Nair said. Fuel shortages have disrupted several essential services, including healthcare, education, water supplies, food distribution and transportation.
The concerns underline the broader humanitarian and economic implications of restrictions affecting access to supplies and resources.
UN Resolution Renews Pressure to End the Embargo
India’s vote reinforces the General Assembly’s renewed call for the United States to lift the embargo. New Delhi has maintained that ending the restrictions would help create conditions for greater international cooperation and allow the Cuban people to pursue their development aspirations.
The resolution reflects the position of the countries that supported it, while the vote also recorded opposition and abstentions among UN member states.
Relevant Link: United Nations official website
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