U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz sharply confronted Cuba’s foreign minister on Tuesday after the Cuban diplomat approached the podium and attempted to interrupt his remarks on the floor of the U.N. General Assembly.
The tense exchange unfolded during the annual debate over the decades-old U.S. embargo on Cuba, as Waltz urged member states to reject a resolution calling for an end to the economic restrictions. During his address, Waltz accused Havana’s communist government of enriching its leadership while the island’s population suffered under severe economic hardships.
As the Cuban delegation sought to interrupt the speech, Waltz fired back directly from the podium. I know you don’t like to hear this, Waltz told the assembly. This is America, my friend. This is the United Nations. This isn’t your communist dictatorship. You cannot silence me.
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno RodrÃguez Parrilla continued moving toward the podium as the president of the General Assembly attempted to restore order, reminding delegates that they would have designated opportunities to respond to the remarks. The escalation prompted Waltz to demand that the approaching diplomat retreat.
This individual needs to back away from this podium, Waltz said as the confrontation escalated. He’s not going to intimidate me in the United States of America. I’m the representative of the United States of America. Back up! Back up, Ambassador. Back away! This isn’t Havana.
Waltz maintained that Cuba’s economic freefall and internal hardships were driven by domestic corruption and political repression rather than the U.S. embargo, arguing that the island’s leadership directed wealth toward enriching regime officials.
Once the Cuban delegation was formally granted the floor later in the proceedings, Foreign Minister RodrÃguez Parrilla accused the U.S. ambassador of fabricating statements and appealed to the General Assembly president to restore order.
Mr. Waltz is lying yet again, the Cuban foreign minister said during his response, arguing that the U.S. ambassador’s remarks fell beneath the dignity of the international forum and member states while serving as an insult to Cuba’s government and people.
Following the session, Waltz took to social media to reiterate his criticisms of the Cuban leadership, posting that communist officials in Havana sought to conceal their luxury real estate portfolios and grew defensive when confronted with documented evidence during international proceedings.
