New York, May 26, 2026.— Cuba’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, spoke during the UN Security Council’s open debate on the defense of the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, where he called for strengthening multilateralism, international law, and the Organization’s central role in preserving international peace and security.
In his remarks, he acknowledged China’s leadership in convening the debate and linked the defense of the international order to the need to address conflicts and threats affecting global stability.
In his speech, the Foreign Minister denounced U.S. policy toward Cuba, which he described as a violation of international law and a threat to regional peace. Rodríguez Parrilla rejected the indictment against Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, considering it a politically motivated decision, and warned of its possible use as a pretext to justify military aggression against the island. He also noted that the energy blockade and the tightening of the embargo have serious humanitarian consequences for the Cuban population.
The head of Cuban diplomacy reiterated that Cuba does not pose a threat to the United States and reaffirmed the country’s willingness to engage in bilateral dialogue on issues of common interest, always based on respect for sovereignty and non-interference. Finally, he called on the international community, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Global South, the UN Security Council, and the UN General Assembly to act to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe or military aggression against Cuba.
Remarks by Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla during the Security Council’s open debate on “Upholding the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and strengthening the UN-centered international system,” New York, May 26, 2026.
Mr. President, distinguished Permanent Representatives:
We highly value the leadership of the People’s Republic of China in the defense of international peace and security, the observance of international law; the preservation, strengthening, and appropriate reform of the United Nations, in particular the democratization, transparency, and effectiveness of the Security Council and the empowerment of the General Assembly; as well as in the construction of a multilateral international order based on sovereign equality, justice, and democracy.
Proof of this lies in the global initiatives promoted by President Xi Jinping—which we support—to address current challenges through genuine multilateral cooperation. The convening of this open debate also demonstrates this.
On September 26, 1960, at the UN General Assembly, Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro Ruz stated: “Let the philosophy of plunder disappear, and the philosophy of war will have disappeared!” We vividly recall this in the year of his centennial.
