U.S. and Cuban Officials Clash on U.N. Floor Over Embargo Vote

U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz and Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez traded words from the floor of the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday during a debate over Washington's economic embargo against Havana. The dispute unfolded as Waltz argued against a resolution set for a vote on Wednesday that criticizes U.S. sanctions policy.

According to the source account, members of the Cuban delegation began pounding their table and shouting for a point of order while Waltz described alleged corruption by the Cuban government. Rodríguez then walked to the front of the assembly hall and yelled to Waltz, "You are a liar!" Waltz replied, "You understand who you're dealing with? This is America. Back up."

The incident followed a similar confrontation a week earlier between Waltz and Cuban representative Ernesto Soberón Guzmán outside a U.S.-hosted panel involving Cuban dissidents and former prisoners. The Trump administration has increased pressure on Cuba, and in late January announced tariffs on countries selling oil to the island. Cuban officials state that the resulting fuel cutoff has led to power outages affecting cooking, water supply, internet and telephone service.

The General Assembly is scheduled to vote on Wednesday on an annual resolution that has passed with wide margins for 34 years. Last year's tally was 165 to 7 with 12 abstentions. Argentina, Ukraine and Hungary voted against the measure for the first time. U.S. officials have urged member states to reject the text, which addresses the "maximum pressure policy" against Cuba. These resolutions are not legally binding but record the views of the assembly.

Cuban representatives have said the United States demands that Havana open to private investment while simultaneously imposing sanctions that obstruct that opening. The source account describes the events Tuesday as a break from standard diplomatic conduct at the United Nations.