165 nations backed the anti-Cuba embargo resolution last year

The United Nations General Assembly will vote Wednesday on a nonbinding resolution condemning the U.S. economic embargo on Cuba. The measure has been on the annual docket for 34 years. It typically draws wide support from the 193 member states.

Last year, 165 countries voted in favor, 7 voted against, and 12 abstained. Officials expect a similar margin this year. However, President Donald Trump’s administration is running a public campaign to influence the outcome. They want to increase opposition or abstentions from key Western allies.

The vote occurs while Cuba faces worsening financial instability. The U.S. is intensifying its economic pressure, a strategy Trump’s team calls a maximum pressure policy. This diplomatic effort complements growing tensions between the two governments.

Last week, Trump raised the possibility of U.S. military intervention. He stated that American warships might stop in Cuban waters on their return from the Iran war. The comments added a new layer to the dispute over the long-standing trade restrictions.

The resolution serves as a symbolic statement of global opinion rather than a legal mandate. Its outcome will not change the embargo directly, but it will measure the level of international consensus against U.S. policy. Delegates will cast their ballots in New York this week.