New york: Cuba's foreign minister on Tuesday accused the United States of carrying out an 'energy siege' on Cuba and urged the United Nations to take action against the 'ruthless' US sanctions on the island country. Addressing the UN General Assembly during a debate on the US embargo, Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla said that for decades the US has been carrying out "a multidimensional nonconventional warfare" against Cuba that has grown 'ever more cruel and more ruthless.'

According to Anadolu Agency, Parrilla alleged that Cuba's fuel imports are being obstructed through 'direct threats, unilateral coercive actions, and even harassment or intimidation of oil tankers.' He accused Washington of using secondary sanctions and other measures to deepen Cuba's economic woes, saying they were intended to 'provoke in Cuba a humanitarian crisis and the complete destabilization of the country.'

He stated that the sanctions had worsened shortages of fuel, medicines, and food, leading to prolonged blackouts and deteriorating living conditions. Parrilla urged the UN to address what he called 'this ruthless crime,' highlighting that the embargo caused $8 billion in damages between March 1, 2025, and Feb. 28, 2026, with cumulative losses since the embargo began amounting to $178.7 billion.

Parrilla dismissed US claims that Cuba poses a security threat and reaffirmed Cuba's commitment to 'peace, international law, multilateralism, truth and justice.' Meanwhile, US Ambassador Mike Waltz objected to the debate, arguing it misused UN resources and deflected blame for Cuba's issues onto Washington.

Ahmet Yildiz, Trkiye's envoy to the UN, expressed concern on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation over the US embargo's impact on Cuba, calling for its removal. The UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to carry out the debate on the necessity of ending the US embargo against Cuba, with 136 votes in favor, nine against, and 30 abstentions.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric noted that Secretary General Antonio Guterres has been closely monitoring the humanitarian situation in Cuba and emphasized the need for dialogue, cooperation, and respect for international law, reiterating the General Assembly's longstanding position for an end to the US embargo on Cuba.