In a significant development at the United Nations General Assembly on October 26, 165 countries, including Saint Lucia, voted in favor of lifting the United States’ longstanding economic, commercial, and financial embargo on Cuba. The embargo, imposed six decades ago, has severely restricted trade, investment, and financial transactions with the island nation, exacerbating its economic struggles and limiting access to essential goods. This annual resolution, calling for the embargo’s end, has been adopted by the General Assembly for over three decades. Last year, 187 countries supported the resolution, with only the US and Israel opposing it. This year, however, seven nations—the US, Hungary, Paraguay, Argentina, Ukraine, North Macedonia, and Israel—voted to maintain the embargo, while 12 abstained. Despite the slight decline in support, Cuba’s Ambassador to Saint Lucia, Yenielys Vilma Regueiferos Linares, hailed the outcome as a victory, emphasizing that 85% of the General Assembly still favors ending the embargo. She described the vote as an “undeniable victory” for Cuba. The US, however, has continued to lobby against lifting the embargo, citing Cuba’s alleged involvement in the Ukraine conflict as a justification. Ambassador Linares refuted these claims, stating that while some Cubans are involved in the conflict, they are not government-sanctioned. She also highlighted the devastating impact of the embargo on Cuba’s economy, particularly in sectors like healthcare, oil, and tourism, which have been further strained by recent natural disasters. US Deputy Ambassador to the UN, Jeff Bartos, argued that lifting the embargo would allow Cuba’s government to evade accountability for its financial crisis. Ambassador Linares expressed hope for a more rational approach in the future, urging the international community to recognize the humanitarian toll of the embargo.