Waltz and Cuban Minister Clash at UN Amid Embargo Vote

Key points

• Waltz and Rodríguez Parrilla exchanged heated remarks, with Waltz telling the Cuban minister to 'back up' and Rodríguez Parrilla calling Waltz a 'liar'.
• The confrontation occurred during the UN General Assembly's annual debate on the U.S. embargo against Cuba, which has been held for 34 consecutive years.
• Waltz accused the Cuban government of enriching its leaders while its people suffered, while Rodríguez Parrilla accused Waltz of lying and insulting the forum.
• The incident led to a brief suspension of the session, with the UN General Assembly president intervening to restore order.
• The confrontation occurred just before a vote on a resolution condemning the U.S. embargo against Cuba, which has historically received overwhelming support from UN member states.

Background

The U.S. embargo against Cuba, first imposed in 1960, has been a long-standing point of contention between the two countries. The UN General Assembly has voted 33 times to call for an end to the embargo, with support peaking at 191 votes in 2015-2017 during the Obama administration. The current confrontation occurs amid a tightening of U.S. sanctions under the Trump administration, which has led to an energy crisis and potential humanitarian collapse in Cuba, according to UN officials. The U.S. has also raised the possibility of military intervention in Cuba, further escalating tensions.

How outlets are covering it

KSL News, ABC News, and Fox News all reported on the shouting match, with ABC News and Fox News providing more detailed accounts of the exchange, including specific quotes from Waltz and Rodríguez Parrilla. UN News provided a more neutral overview of the annual debate and the historical context of the embargo. All sources agreed on the basic facts of the confrontation, but differed in their emphasis and tone, with Fox News and ABC News focusing more on the heated nature of the exchange, while UN News focused more on the broader context of the embargo and its impact on Cuba.

Why it matters

The confrontation highlights the escalating tensions between the U.S. and Cuba under the Trump administration's 'maximum pressure' policy. The U.S. has tightened its embargo against Cuba, leading to an energy crisis and potential humanitarian collapse, while also raising the possibility of military intervention. The incident also underscores the ongoing debate over the U.S. embargo against Cuba, which has been a long-standing point of contention between the two countries and has received overwhelming support from UN member states for 34 consecutive years.

What to watch

The UN General Assembly is expected to vote on a resolution condemning the U.S. embargo against Cuba on October 28, 2026. The resolution is expected to receive overwhelming support, as it has in previous years. The U.S. and Cuba are likely to continue their public spats over the embargo, with the Trump administration seeking to force changes to Cuba's political system through economic pressure. The incident may also lead to further diplomatic tensions between the two countries, as the U.S. continues to tighten its sanctions against Cuba.