US and Cuban diplomats clash at UN over embargo

Summarised from 5 outlets · Updated 27 Oct, 18:39 · Archive

The US ambassador and Cuba's foreign minister confronted each other at the UN General Assembly during debate on the US embargo.

US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz and Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla confronted each other on the UN General Assembly floor on Tuesday during debate on a nonbinding resolution calling for an end to the US embargo against Cuba. The 193-member assembly was considering the resolution for the 34th time.

Waltz criticised Cuba's political system and leadership whilst defending the US embargo as pressure against the communist government. He displayed a photograph of late dictator Fidel Castro wearing two Rolex watches, estimated at around £40,000 in today's money. He noted that according to the regime's own statistics, this sum would pay for 55 years of an average Cuban wage. He then showed a photograph of current Cuban president Miguel Díaz-Canel, also wearing a Rolex, and stated: 'It didn't just start with Castro. This is the current Cuban President, also with a Rolex on.'

During his remarks, Waltz accused Fidel Castro of sending 'thousands of homosexuals, Christians and Afro-Cubans' to concentration camps. He also accused the Cuban government of spreading 'outright lies' about US pressure and of enriching its elites whilst blaming Washington for Cuba's economic failures.

As Waltz spoke, Rodríguez Parrilla charged toward the rostrum and accused him of lying. Waltz responded by shouting 'Back up!' and told the assembly: 'He doesn't like hard truths. You can come and intimidate all you want.' He added that the foreign minister could not intimidate him in the United States, as he tries to intimidate political prisoners in Cuba.

A video obtained by the New York Post showed Waltz's spokesman J.P. Freire being assaulted by another member of the Cuban delegation who attempted to grab his iPhone as he was recording the confrontation. UN officials attempted to restore order.

How it is being reported

• Trump official is called a 'liar' during shouting match with Cuban officials at UNMembers of the Cuban delegation began to slam on their table during Mike Waltz’s speechIndependent World · 27 Oct, 19:25
• Shouting match erupts at UN as Cuban foreign minister moves toward US ambassador's podium: 'Back up!'United Nations Ambassador Mike Waltz told Cuba's foreign minister to "back up" after he approached the podium as Waltz was making his address.Fox News · 27 Oct, 18:58
• U.S., Cuban diplomats clash at U.N. over embargoThe Cuban foreign minister and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations engaged in a heated verbal confrontation Tuesday at the U.N. General Assembly.UPI · 27 Oct, 18:31
• Chaos at the UN as Mike Waltz explodes at Cuba's foreign minister in fiery showdown: 'Back up!'A fiery confrontation erupted on the UN General Assembly floor Tuesday as US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz traded shouts with Cuba's foreign minister.Daily Mail · 27 Oct, 18:30
• Mike Waltz gets in shouting match with Cuban delegate at UN as American staffer assaultedUS Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz got into a shouting match with Cuba’s foreign minister on the floor of the general assembly hall Tuesday as he was detailing the Communist regime’s real estate holdings. As Waltz spoke, Cuban foreign minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla charged toward the rostrum and accused Waltz of lying, causing...New York Post · 27 Oct, 16:03

In this story: Mike Waltz · Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla · Fidel Castro · Miguel Díaz-Canel · United Nations · Cuba · United States of America

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log