Cuban Foreign Minister denounces US intimidation campaign ahead of UN vote

Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla -- image via X

Statements to the press by Cuban Minister of Foreign Affairs

Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla

October 22, 2025

Thank you very much for attending. I apologize for the short notice, but I would like to share relevant information with our people and the international community regarding the United Nations General Assembly sessions on October 28 and 29. These sessions will consider the issue and resolution entitled "Necessity of ending the economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by the United States of America against Cuba." This will be an opportunity to once again approve an overwhelming majority call from the international community to end the blockade against Cuba in the most representative and democratic body of the United Nations and the international community. The session will take place at a time when the international situation is characterized by intensified economic aggression against Cuba—which the Assembly has rejected year after year— and by the United States government's implementation of an extremely aggressive and intimidating foreign policy, even against its closest partners and allies.

We have reliable information that the United States government is exerting intimidating and deceptive pressure on several countries, especially in Latin America and Europe. The aim is to coerce them into modifying their traditional, historic position in support of the resolution against the blockade.

The US government is combining an extraordinary and unprecedented deployment of extreme pressure in relation to this issue with a slanderous and mendacious campaign of misinformation. This campaign aims to distort Cuba's image and generate pressure on third countries regarding their position on the blockade against our homeland. The goal is to create a climate of misinformation and confusion, provoke despair and demoralization, and instill a sense of insecurity or fear in the member states of the United Nations.

I am going to provide irrefutable evidence of this campaign, which is currently being waged with extraordinary intensity and has been ongoing for the past two weeks. You may recall the Reuters wire dispatch that exposed the State Department's active strategy to coerce several governments into changing their position or voting in the General Assembly. Reuters had access to State Department documents. This timely revelation included excerpts from the State Department's communications with other governments.

I don't know if Reuters had access to the full text. I have it here in my hand. This is the text of the mendacious and slanderous communication that disrespects the sovereignty of independent states and governments. It includes pressure and crude threats if they maintain their vote for Cuba. It has a very curious structure. Its approach is fraudulent, deceitful, and shameless. On one hand, it tries to demonstrate that "the Cuban regime does not deserve your support," as one of the subtitles suggests. This message is directed at governments that have consistently and overwhelmingly voted for decades—some for over 30 years—in favor of lifting the blockade, restoring the rule of international law, and ending the crime of genocide, as defined in the relevant convention. These governments make up the majority of United Nations member states, reflecting the views of most U.S. citizens, who fund the U.S. diplomats involved in these efforts. This also reflects the majority opinion of Cubans living in the United States, who are victims of this aggressive, hostile, and blockading policy.

A second approach is clumsy Cold War language, which reflects ignorance. They don't feel the need to engage in serious arguments with governments. They seem to think that brutal pressure and intimidation are sufficient. After reading the document, I realized that they don't intend to convince anyone; rather, they intend to intimidate and pressure.

They say: "The blockade is not the cause of the Cuban economy's problems." I have conclusively proven this with data, and I am willing to do so again. Cuban experts are willing to debate this issue to prove that the blockade is indeed the main cause of our economic problems and the main obstacle to our development.

Thirdly, they claim that "human rights abuses in Cuba are greater than ever." This is said by a country that is practically the author, rather than an accomplice, of genocide in Palestine and atrocious human rights violations in other countries. This country has a pattern of massive, flagrant, and systematic human rights violations, especially against low-income people and minorities, as seen in large demonstrations. It is the country whose government is shut down due to protests against cuts to social policies, such as healthcare. It is also said by a country that currently has a brutally anti-immigrant, repressive, and racist policy. It is also said by a country that is currently carrying out extrajudicial executions with impunity, systematically and repeatedly, in its military deployment that threatens Venezuela and all of Our America.

The most ridiculous and mendacious part of this document, however, is the last chapter. It claims that "Cuba is a threat to international peace and security." It seems like a joke.

If we received a document of this kind from another country, we would be offended. We would say, "Respect our intelligence and seriousness." These are shamefully mendacious and slanderous messages.

The statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 11 October was clear and precise. I reiterate each of its statements and words here. Accusing Cuba, the country where the Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace was signed by the heads of state and government of all of Our America, is extraordinarily cynical. Cuba is a country of peace that has been attacked and suffered direct aggression from the United States.

What the State Department, its Secretary of State, and some other undersecretaries are doing is not diplomacy. It is not diplomacy.

They are making arguments that no one believes in an attempt to alter the debate that will take place on the 28th and part of the 29th. They are trying to divert attention from the main issue: the abuse perpetrated by the government of the United States against a small, noble, hard- working, supportive, and peaceful people. They are trying to prevent the international community from focusing on the serious human rights violations that the blockade constitutes against Cubans.

They are trying to divert attention from the crime that is causing our people deprivation, suffering, difficulties, and shortages every day, as you have shared with us. They are trying to prevent our people from continuing to denounce the fact that the U.S. is persecuting our fuel supplies and prohibiting third countries from supplying them, which is causing the blackouts and fragility of our national electrical system. As I mentioned a few weeks ago, an international corporation and the government of a country with favorable relations with Cuba refused to supply spare parts or technical assistance to repair one of our three largest thermoelectric plants. They are also persecuting shipping companies that carry fuel supplies, as well as insurers and reinsurers.

They are trying to prevent the international community from speaking out again about the consequences and extraordinary humanitarian damage caused by the extreme tightening of the blockade, which is deliberately aimed at causing suffering to Cuban families. They are creating smokescreens that no one can believe.

The US government distributed this document in numerous capitals. Its purpose is to distort reality and fabricate a pretext, but, above all, it is meant to intimidate. However, the document they circulated on 8 October was not enough for them. Apparently, it did not work; no one believed it or was scared. So, on 17 October, they circulated another version of the document. The 8 October document contains brutal phrases. For example, it claims that "Cuba uses this debate and this resolution as a weapon."

What does that mean? The United Nations adopts hundreds of resolutions, yet no one thinks that way. The U.S. government places a lot of emphasis on getting its policies backed by General Assembly resolutions, but usually with little success.

The document claims that the U.S. government has evidence that "the regime has the support of the international community." What a discovery! But this acknowledgment is striking nonetheless. It reminds me of when Mr. Mallory said the government had the support of the majority of the Cuban people. Now, they are essentially saying, "We recognize that almost all of you support lifting the blockade.”

In the October 17th installment—that is, almost a week later—I have the other document. Is Reuters here? Do you have it? All right. If you had it, you could have published it, couldn't you? As you did with the other one.

I have the other one here. It's more concise but also more deceptive and threatening. For example, this document has the luxury of mentioning sovereign countries. It's unusual that it mentions Latin American countries.

It is disrespectful to circulate a paper around the world with ridiculous figures in an attempt to argue its lies. It says, for example, and I'm quoting from the English translation: "To be clear, there is no blockade against Cuba." That's what it says.

Here is the paper. It's the one I just showed you. "There is no blockade against Cuba". However, it also says, "Nothing prevents Cuba from establishing economic interactions with third countries". The Helms-Burton Act, Title III; the Torricelli Act; policies of intimidation and coercion; and lawsuits in U.S. courts against companies and individuals from any country, which extend the jurisdiction of U.S. courts and their laws extraterritorially. In other words, the lie is truly shameless.

Then he asks himself, "Where is the blockade?" That's what it says on paper. However, he returns to the same theme of trying to pressure the vote regarding the blockade of Cuba under the pretext that Cuba threatens the United States. This is nonsense, but dangerous nonsense because it can lead to aggressive actions with incalculable consequences. We've seen this with numerous countries in various regions, and it's happening now in the southern Caribbean with that extraordinary and unusual deployment that threatens the whole world.

It says, and I quote: "At the international level, Cuba actively undermines peace and security." This cannot be taken seriously. Like the previous one, it also contains directly threatening phrases: "We urge you to reject this resolution."

Not only have officials paid by US taxpayers, the Secretary of State, and others been involved, but toxic platforms and anti-Cuban congressmen have as well. Those who draft these papers seem unaware of Mallory's memorandum and appear to be ignoring the fact that the Secretary of State is Mallory's reincarnation.

It's as if the blockade had nothing to do with Cuba's electrical infrastructure, transportation, communications, water supply, food, and medicine production. Instead of dealing with the issues that should be their priority and working for what U.S. taxpayers generously pay them for—trying to open up the closed U.S. government, where tens of thousands of employees are not receiving salaries—U.S. congressmen, some of whom are very anti-Cuban and some of whom are from Florida, are focused on the issue of the blockade against Cuba.

Instead of addressing the issue of the fierce persecution of their migrant constituents and the relatives of their constituents, as well as Cuban, Latin American, Caribbean, and other migrants whom they helped bring to Cuba with their policies, they are dealing with the issue of the blockade against Cuba. They are not taking care of the Cubans who went there to reside permanently or temporarily, attracted by their privileges and calls to do so, which they use as a political tool. They are not dealing with the issue of them being persecuted in hospitals, schools, and markets, and being deported en masse.

They have also sent threatening letters to many countries, linking their votes on this resolution to unrelated issues, such as their links to the United States, their private companies' links to the US economy, their foreign policy interests, and their interests in peace, security, and regional stability. They have used blackmail tactics regarding trade tariffs and visa deprivation sanctions. In other words, these letters are truly insulting. I have brought one with me and will read some excerpts and translate them from English.

It contains the big lie about Cuba's alleged involvement in the conflict in Europe and the war in Ukraine. It claims that "up to 20,000 Cuban citizens have been recruited." Everyone knows that's a lie.

It argues that reiterating one's position in speeches will lend legitimacy to Cuban propaganda, undermine the United States' democratic allies in the Western Hemisphere, and damage the United States itself. It appears to have been written in 1962 or 1963. It states, "They will legitimize one of Moscow's closest military allies."

However, the author argues that the vote undermines the moral authority of the region and the United States. He concludes by saying: "Let me be perfectly clear: Being an ally of the United States means supporting the United States against forces that damage, weaken, and erode freedom and national security in the Western Hemisphere." In other words, being an ally means supporting the United States. He adds, "If you don't do that, you will become a regional facilitator of authoritarian aggression from Moscow and Caracas. You will also become an accomplice in facilitating the acts of illicit networks that threaten stability throughout the Americas." What is he talking about? Terrorism and drug trafficking. In other words, it's the same lie on which the military threat against the region is based: linking terrorism and drug trafficking to an offensive military deployment.

He goes on to say that justifying that behavior—voting in the United Nations, etc.—is "counterproductive to common security interests." This letter has been addressed to dignitaries, not to another type of organization. It is addressed to foreign ministers, presidents, and ambassadors, and is therefore highly disrespectful.

He continues: "My government has always supported its democratic partners." Then comes the threat: "I urge your government—the word 'urge' sounds much harsher in English than in Spanish—to show the same clarity, conviction, purpose, and ethics by resolutely opposing this resolution.”

Then, he ends with the most direct threat I have seen in this brutal campaign of gunboat diplomacy: "I hope you will give this letter, which addresses the utmost important issue, full and proper consideration. However, do so in accordance with applicable statutes, regulations, and legal authorities." What does that mean? It means that if you do not do what he is urging you to do in the letter, you will be subject to sanctions. That is what that last sentence means. Read the letter and take it seriously because actions backed by applicable statutes, regulations, and legal authorities will follow.

Currently, the Secretary of State, some undersecretaries, and many U.S. ambassadors are engaged in intense and aggressive diplomatic efforts. These efforts are taking place at the United Nations headquarters, in Washington, and in the capitals of numerous countries. The pressure they are exerting, especially in Europe and Latin America, is brutal and extraordinarily disrespectful. There is even talk of emissaries.

Instead of focusing on his priorities, such as preventing Israel's bombing of Gaza after the peace agreement — which has caused civilian casualties — or the ban on entry and restriction of humanitarian aid to Gaza, the Secretary of State is dealing with this issue.

He is not devoting more time to working for peace, which would earn him the Nobel Prize — supposedly for President Trump — nor is he presenting other candidates, as he did in the past. At this crucial moment, he is not dealing with the fundamental issues of US foreign policy.

We believe it is important that these facts be known to our people and the international community.

What could be the reason for this unusual anxiety on the part of the State Department and the US government if not the conviction that the blockade will cause total isolation and profound discredit in foreign policy and result in absolute isolation, singling out, criticism, and direct appeals from governments around the world to lift the blockade?

This anxiety reflects the fact that the US government understands the international community overwhelmingly believes in and supports ending the blockade. I am absolutely certain that this will happen on the 29th—well, on the 28th during the debate and on the 29th, starting from mid-morning or noon, during the vote.

I am convinced that this will be a victory for the people, for international law, and for the people of the Global South. I am confident that the majority of member states will vote in favor of truth and justice by demanding an end to the blockade. Truth will prevail over pressure, blackmail, and slander. I am convinced that the result will pit humanity against the policies of the United States government.

It will be the international community and the powerful United Nations General Assembly against the United States government's blockade. I am certain that the United States government will be isolated, perhaps with a few lackeys. This will be a tremendous victory for the Cuban Revolution and Cuba, doubly meritorious given the challenging circumstances of international life.

Thank you very much.