New York, 28 October (H.S.): A heated verbal confrontation erupted on Tuesday between US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz and Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla during a debate at the UN General Assembly, after the Cuban minister approached the podium and accused the American envoy of lying.

The confrontation took place ahead of a vote on a resolution condemning the decades-old US economic and trade embargo against Cuba, which has been described as one of the longest-running economic sanctions regimes in modern history.

According to a report by NBC News, Rodríguez alleged that Washington was pressuring other countries to vote against the resolution condemning the embargo. He argued that recent restrictions on fuel supplies had severely disrupted Cuba’s healthcare system, doubled the infant mortality rate and placed the lives of millions of Cubans at risk.

Throughout his address, Waltz sharply criticised the Cuban government, accusing it of corruption and alleging that the country’s leaders lived in luxury while ordinary citizens struggled with economic hardship. He claimed that Cuban leaders enjoyed private islands and expensive Rolex watches while blaming external forces for the country’s difficulties.

Waltz held up a photograph of the late Cuban leader Fidel Castro wearing two Rolex watches, each allegedly worth around $40,000.

“According to the Cuban government’s own figures, these watches are worth the equivalent of 55 years of earnings for an ordinary Cuban citizen,” Waltz said.

He then displayed a photograph of Cuba’s current President, Miguel Díaz-Canel, and alleged that he, too, had been seen wearing a Rolex watch.

“This did not begin with Castro alone. This is Cuba’s current president, and he, too, has worn a Rolex,” Waltz said.

As the American envoy continued his remarks, Rodríguez approached the podium and accused him of making false statements. Waltz responded sharply, telling the Cuban foreign minister to step back.

“He doesn’t like the hard truths,” Waltz said.

“You can come and intimidate all you want. I’m asking you to back away from this podium,” he added.

Waltz then turned towards Khalilur Rahman, President of the UN General Assembly, and called for intervention.

“Mr. President, this individual needs to back away from this podium. He is not going to intimidate me in the United States of America the way he tries to intimidate political prisoners. I am the representative of the United States of America. Back up,” Waltz said.

The exchange underscored the deepening tensions between Washington and Havana as the administration of US President Donald Trump intensifies economic pressure on Cuba.

The United States has maintained a comprehensive economic embargo against Cuba for more than six decades. The Trump administration has further tightened pressure through measures targeting fuel supplies and Cuban state entities, exacerbating the island’s existing economic difficulties.

The annual UN General Assembly resolution calling for an end to the embargo is non-binding, but its adoption or rejection carries considerable diplomatic and political significance. The vote was scheduled for Wednesday, October 28, following a renewed push by US officials to persuade member states to oppose the measure.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar