Cuban Foreign Minister's Outburst Halts UN Session: What Happened Between US Ambassador and Havana?

A sharp verbal clash between representatives of the United States and Cuba led to a temporary suspension of discussions in the UN General Assembly on Tuesday.

The dispute erupted during the debate on a draft resolution calling for an end to the US embargo imposed on the communist island, a non-binding measure that Cuba has submitted annually since 1992.

Dispute between the US and Cuba at the United Nations

However, this year's discussions come amid a new pressure campaign launched by Washington against Cuba, including an oil blockade and widespread sanctions that have severely damaged the Cuban economy.

While US Ambassador Mike Waltz was delivering a speech before the General Assembly, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez objected to the content of the address and approached the speakers' platform demanding that the speech be stopped.

Waltz, while justifying his rejection of the draft resolution, criticized in his speech the communist government's suppression of Cuban citizens.

Waltz shouted, "This is the United Nations, not your communist dictatorship. You cannot silence me," demanding that Rodriguez and other Cuban diplomats step back.

Rodriguez responded by also shouting, "You are a liar."

Following this, the session president briefly suspended the deliberations and asked the representatives of both countries to return to their seats before allowing Waltz to continue his speech.

Cuba accused Washington of launching an "unprecedented" pressure campaign this year to persuade countries to oppose the draft resolution, which traditionally enjoyed overwhelming support.

Last year, the draft resolution received the endorsement of 165 countries, with 7 opposing it and 12 abstaining from voting, marking the lowest level of support for the resolution in two decades.

A vote on this year's draft resolution is expected to take place on Wednesday.

This dispute also comes days after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called on Cubans to work secretly with the Central Intelligence Agency to end communist rule on the island.