Cuba’s Ambassador to Antigua and Barbuda, Sergio Martínez, has praised the overwhelming international support shown this week at the United Nations, where the General Assembly once again called for an end to the long-standing U.S. economic and financial embargo on the island.

Antigua and Barbuda was among the 165 nations that voted in favor of the resolution, reaffirming its consistent support for Cuba’s right to trade freely and develop without external restrictions.

Ambassador Martínez described the outcome as “a clear and resounding message of solidarity from the international community,” noting that the embargo has inflicted severe hardship on the Cuban people for more than six decades.

“This vote demonstrates that the world stands with Cuba in demanding an end to the blockade that has stifled our progress and limited our potential,” he said.

The resolution marks the 33rd consecutive year the United Nations has voted to condemn the embargo, which Cuba has denounced as a violation of international law since 1992. Despite the overwhelming support, seven countries voted against the motion — including the United States, Israel, Hungary, North Macedonia, Paraguay, Ukraine, and, notably, Argentina. Another twelve nations abstained.

According to the latest Cuban report presented to the UN, the embargo caused an estimated US$7.56 billion in losses between March 2024 and February 2025, reflecting a nearly 50 percent increase over the previous period.

Ambassador Martínez emphasized that the impact goes beyond economics, affecting healthcare, education, and access to basic goods. “This policy is not only unjust but inhumane,” he said.

He also expressed gratitude to Caribbean nations like Antigua and Barbuda for their unwavering support over the years, describing them as “true friends who continue to stand for justice and equality on the global stage.”

The annual UN debate and vote have become a symbolic reaffirmation of international opposition to the U.S. embargo — a policy that remains one of the most criticized unilateral measures in modern diplomacy.