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The United Nations General Assembly has overwhelmingly approved a resolution calling for an end to the United States' longstanding economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba, despite opposition from Trinidad and Tobago. The resolution was adopted on Wednesday, 28 October 2026, with 130 countries voting in favour, 17 against and 25 abstaining. Trinidad and Tobago joined the United States, Israel and other countries in opposing the measure, marking a historic departure from its longstanding position supporting the removal of the embargo. For more than three decades, Trinidad and Tobago had supported resolutions calling for an end to the sanctions, following its initial abstention in 1992. The latest vote also revealed differences among CARICOM member states. While countries including Barbados, Belize, Grenada, Suriname and The Bahamas supported the resolution, Jamaica, Guyana and Haiti abstained. The Trinidad and Tobago Government has defended its position by emphasising its support for democracy and political freedom for the Cuban people, while opposing what it describes as military dictatorship. The outcome nevertheless demonstrates that a substantial majority of voting UN member states continue to oppose the American embargo. However, support for the resolution declined significantly compared with 2025, when 165 countries voted in favour, seven opposed and 12 abstained. Although the General Assembly has repeatedly called for the embargo to be lifted, its resolutions are non-binding and cannot compel Washington to remove the restrictions. The latest decision represents another chapter in a decades-long international dispute, while highlighting Trinidad and Tobago's changing diplomatic position on Cuba.
The United Nations General Assembly has overwhelmingly approved a resolution calling for an end to the United States’ longstanding economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba, despite opposition from Trinidad and Tobago.
The resolution was adopted on Wednesday, 28 October 2026, with 130 countries voting in favour, 17 against and 25 abstaining.
Trinidad and Tobago joined the United States, Israel and other countries in opposing the measure, marking a historic departure from its longstanding position supporting the removal of the embargo.
For more than three decades, Trinidad and Tobago had supported resolutions calling for an end to the sanctions, following its initial abstention in 1992.
The latest vote also revealed differences among CARICOM member states. While countries including Barbados, Belize, Grenada, Suriname and The Bahamas supported the resolution, Jamaica, Guyana and Haiti abstained.
The Trinidad and Tobago Government has defended its position by emphasising its support for democracy and political freedom for the Cuban people, while opposing what it describes as military dictatorship.
The outcome nevertheless demonstrates that a substantial majority of voting UN member states continue to oppose the American embargo.
However, support for the resolution declined significantly compared with 2025, when 165 countries voted in favour, seven opposed and 12 abstained.
Although the General Assembly has repeatedly called for the embargo to be lifted, its resolutions are non-binding and cannot compel Washington to remove the restrictions.
The latest decision represents another chapter in a decades-long international dispute, while highlighting Trinidad and Tobago’s changing diplomatic position on Cuba.
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