Netherlands abstains on UN vote against US embargo on Cuba

The Hague Abandons Decades of Consistent Policy at the United Nations

For the first time since 1996, the Netherlands broke with European Union solidarity at the United Nations by abstaining from the annual vote calling for the end of the American trade embargo against Cuba, nrc.nl reported. The shift followed an intensive diplomatic campaign led by the United States under President Donald Trump, who has tightened economic pressure on Havana through measures including a blockade on oil tankers. Since 1996, Brussels has maintained an EU blocking statute allowing European firms to bypass American sanctions, historically voting as a unified bloc against the embargo.

During the UN General Assembly vote on October 28, 2026, the resolution demanding an end to the embargo passed with 130 votes in favor, 17 against, and 25 abstentions, according to De Wereld Morgen. That total reflects a sharp decline in international backing compared to 2024, when 187 nations supported the motion. Alongside the Netherlands, European countries including Germany, Italy, and Latvia abstained from the vote, marking the first time those nations have done so in 34 years. Countries including Colombia, Paraguay, Argentina, Ecuador, and Costa Rica joined the United States in voting against the resolution, while nations like Chile, Honduras, and Peru—whose leaders maintain strong ties with President Trump—also moved to abstain.

American Diplomatic Offensive Links Cuban Mercenaries to the War in Ukraine

The policy shift by Washington’s European allies followed a concerted diplomatic push led by US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz. During a press briefing last month, Waltz pointed to evidence from the Ukrainian government as justification for urging European capitals to alter their voting positions, nrc.nl noted. The ambassador cited reports that thousands of Cuban mercenaries are currently integrated into the Russian army.

“I have asked many of our European colleagues: how can you still vote for this resolution in the light of the evidence from the Ukrainian government?” Waltz stated during his briefing.

That pressure campaign culminated in tense confrontations on the floor of the UN General Assembly. NOS reported that a sharp verbal clash erupted between Waltz and Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez, after the American ambassador accused the regime of corruption and human rights abuses. Rodríguez walked toward the podium, calling Waltz a liar, while the US envoy demanded order and told the Cuban delegation they were not in Havana. “This is America, my friend. This are the United Nations. This is not your communist dictatorship. You cannot silence me,” Waltz declared, adding, “He is not going to intimidate me in the United States of America as he does with political prisoners,” before shouting, “Back off. This is not Havana.”

Domestic Political Backlash Follows the Dutch Course Change

The decision by the Dutch cabinet to alter its vote drew immediate domestic criticism. Kati Piri, foreign affairs spokesperson for the political party Pro, submitted parliamentary questions challenging the move, calling it sad that the government succumbed to American pressure, nrc.nl reported. Piri noted that Dutch policy had remained consistent for thirty years in viewing the US embargo as illegal under international trade principles. While the EU, represented by the Irish presidency, maintains that the embargo has a “negative economic and humanitarian impact on the Cuban people,” the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs defended the adjustment by pointing to a continuous dialogue with both Washington and Havana, citing a lack of progress on democratic reforms.

Severe Humanitarian Crisis Deepens Inside Cuba Amid Fuel Shortages

The diplomatic maneuvering at the United Nations unfolds against the backdrop of a severe economic and humanitarian crisis on the island. The Trump administration’s enforcement of import tariffs on any nation supplying oil to Cuba has triggered blackouts and disrupted water delivery systems, such as a major main pipeline failure in Havana affecting more than 200,000 residents. While Washington maintains that the sanctions target a corrupt dictatorship, international aid organizations and Cuban officials argue that the embargo and recent oil blockades punish ordinary citizens by restricting access to food, medicine, and fuel. Despite the shifting voting tallies at the UN, the general assembly’s resolutions remain non-binding, leaving the ultimate authority to modify or lift the embargo entirely in the hands of the United States Congress and the executive branch.

Trump Threatens Cuba and Urges CIA Cooperation

On October 23, 2026, during a rally in Florida, President Trump reiterated threats regarding the island, stating that after the conflict in Iran, US ships would sail “along” Cuba, with one vessel potentially stopping approximately 50 yards from the coast. Ambassador Waltz has used social media to encourage individuals to engage in "discrete cooperation with the CIA" to facilitate regime change. The current resolution marks the 34th year the UN has voted on the matter, with support peaking in 2024 before the recent decline.