UN condemns US embargo of Cuba, but more nations sit out after Trump pressure

The UN General Assembly condemned the US economic embargo of Cuba for the 34th year on Wednesday, even as Washington’s campaign to influence the outcome led to a number of countries voting against the resolution or sitting out the decision for the first time.

The vote was 130-17, with 25 abstentions – a notable decrease in support from last year, when more than 160 nations supported the measure and only 12 abstained. While such resolutions at the UN General Assembly are not legally binding, they do reflect world opinion.

For the first time in 34 years, Western countries like Germany, Italy and Latvia were among those that refrained from voting.