Cuba blames US blockade for power crisis at UN, but international support wavers

Cuba is grappling with its third major nationwide power outage this year, leaving millions in darkness and highlighting the country's severe economic crisis. While power has been restored to some areas, low generation capacity, significantly impacted by U.S. sanctions limiting fuel imports, means many Cubans remain without electricity. The situation is particularly dire in cities like Santiago de Cuba, which is still experiencing blackouts.

Cuban authorities attribute the outages to voltage instability and insufficient power generation. The government has implemented strict rolling blackouts to conserve fuel. Some regions have endured outages lasting over 30 hours, with rural areas experiencing even longer periods without power, underscoring the severity of the energy crisis.

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The U.S. government has waged an almost 70-year multifaceted and unconventional war, and over the past seven months, its intensity has become more brutal and harsh.

At the United Nations, Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez launched a scathing attack on the U.S. blockade, labeling it a "merciless" and "multifaceted" crime that has inflicted nearly $8 billion in economic damage over the past seven months. He urged the UN to address this "collective punishment" of the Cuban people.

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There is no U.S. blockade. The only blockade that exists in Cuba is the guillotine that the Cuban regime holds over the heads of its own people.

However, the U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Mike Waltz, refuted these claims, stating the blockade does not exist and that the only blockade is imposed by the Cuban regime on its own people. This exchange reflects the long-standing diplomatic tension between the two nations.

Support for Cuba's annual UN resolution calling for the end of the U.S. embargo appears to be waning. While the resolution historically passes with overwhelming support, last year's vote saw a slight decrease in backing. This year's vote on holding a debate also showed a reduction in support, with traditional allies like Germany and Canada abstaining. Some representatives, while criticizing U.S. policy, also pointed to the Cuban government's own responsibilities, suggesting the crisis is not solely attributable to the blockade.

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The serious situation facing the Cuban people cannot be explained solely by the blockade.