Ambassadors trade insults at UN as Cuba vote approaches
Mike Waltz and Bruno Rodríguez exchanged heated remarks on the General Assembly floor ahead of Wednesday's embargo resolution vote.
By Riya Zhao ·
U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz and Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez engaged in a loud exchange on the United Nations General Assembly floor on Tuesday. The confrontation occurred as delegates prepared to vote on a resolution condemning Washington's economic policies toward Havana.
Waltz took the podium to argue against the annual measure. He cited years of corruption within the Cuban government. Members of the Cuban delegation, including Rodríguez, began slamming their table and calling for a point of order. U.N. officials attempted to quiet the group. Rodríguez then walked down the aisle to the head of the assembly. He shouted, “You are a liar!”
Waltz replied from his seat, “You understand who you’re dealing with? This is America. Back up.” The interaction marked a sharp departure from the usual diplomatic tone of the chamber. It reflected the rising friction between the two governments under the Trump administration.
The U.S. has intensified its economic pressure on the island. President Donald Trump announced in late January that he would impose tariffs on any nation selling oil to Cuba. That move has effectively cut off fuel supplies. The shortage has led to widespread power outages. These outages disrupt cooking, water supplies, and internet and telephone services across the country.
This dispute follows a similar incident last week. Waltz and Cuban delegate Ernesto Soberón Guzmán clashed outside a U.S.-hosted panel. That gathering featured Cuban dissidents and former prisoners. U.S. officials have used these events to persuade member states to oppose the resolution. The vote is scheduled for Wednesday.
The resolution has been passed by the General Assembly for 34 consecutive years. It is not legally binding but reflects global sentiment. Last year, the vote was 165 to 7, with 12 abstentions. Argentina, Ukraine, and Hungary opposed the measure for the first time in that cycle. Delegates will reconvene Wednesday to cast their ballots on the new resolution.
