Continued President Miguel Díaz-Canel declared the result "a victory for the heroic Cuban people, who do not surrender in the face of economic strangulation, threats and abuse." He accused Washington of "gangster-like coercion" to change votes, adding: "This is the victory of truth against those who gamble on lies and blackmail to subject an entire nation to collective punishment." The vote came at the most difficult stage of the siege in decades. In 2026, the US allowed only one oil shipment to reach the island, going after banks and companies linked to Cuba. Spanish hotel giant Melia abandoned its 15 Cuban resorts in July, and Canadian miner Sherit suspended operations and sold its stake to an investment company linked to Trump. Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez revealed that the damage of the blockade reached a peak of 8.083 billion dollars in the past year, with cumulative losses since 1962 totaling 178.7 billion dollars. "The siege is punishing and silently punishing our population like never before," he told the assembly. Infant mortality has doubled, survival from childhood cancer has dropped from 85% to 65%, and about 100,000 people, including 12,000 children, are waiting for operations. The meeting included a dramatic confrontation between Rodriguez and US Ambassador Mike Waltz. Valdes reports that Rodríguez accused Washington of "cynicism" and "worn out lies," noting that the American delegation abused procedural rules to avoid an argument. When the world voted, the message from Havana was clear: "Cuba is not a threat; the blockade is."

Continued President Miguel Díaz-Canel declared the result "a victory for the heroic Cuban people, who do not surrender in the face of economic strangulation, threats and abuse." He accused Washington of "gangster-like coercion" to change votes, adding: "This is the victory of truth against those who gamble on lies and blackmail to subject an entire nation to collective punishment." The vote came at the most difficult stage of the siege in decades. In 2026, the US allowed only one oil shipment to reach the island, going after banks and companies linked to Cuba. Spanish hotel giant Melia abandoned its 15 Cuban resorts in July, and Canadian miner Sherit suspended operations and sold its stake to an investment company linked to Trump. Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez revealed that the damage of the blockade reached a peak of 8.083 billion dollars in the past year, with cumulative losses since 1962 totaling 178.7 billion dollars. "The siege is punishing and silently punishing our population like never before," he told the assembly. Infant mortality has doubled, survival from childhood cancer has dropped from 85% to 65%, and about 100,000 people, including 12,000 children, are waiting for operations. The meeting included a dramatic confrontation between Rodriguez and US Ambassador Mike Waltz. Valdes reports that Rodríguez accused Washington of "cynicism" and "worn out lies," noting that the American delegation abused procedural rules to avoid an argument. When the world voted, the message from Havana was clear: "Cuba is not a threat; the blockade is."