In an article published in the “Enfoque” column of the newspaper *Listin Diario*, the diplomat stated that the U.S. State Department is applying extreme pressure to compel member states to alter their long-standing support for this resolution, which is set to be considered at the United Nations on October 27 and 28.

He noted that Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez recently revealed, during a press conference, the existence of State Department documents containing instructions for U.S. embassies. These instructions were intended to coerce foreign governments into voting against the resolution—which Washington dismisses as Cuban “propaganda”—in an effort to shift the blame for humanitarian harm onto the Cuban government itself.

The methods of pressure include threats of punitive tariffs, the suspension of cooperation programs, the denial of visas to government officials and their family members, support for opposition forces, and the forced expulsion of foreign companies—particularly European firms—that have historically invested in Cuba.

Arzuaga pointed out that the international community has maintained a clear and nearly unanimous stance against the blockade for decades. He added that the State Department has even gone so far as to request that certain countries either abstain from voting or leave the assembly hall entirely.

He asserted that Cuba is not a threat, but that the U.S. blockade against the island certainly is. In this regard, he explained that the economic, commercial, and financial siege imposed by Washington for over 60 years has caused cumulative damage to the Cuban population amounting to $178.7 billion (in current prices).

The ambassador maintained that the consequences of that policy manifest themselves in long hours without electricity, days and weeks without potable water, a lack of public transportation, constraints on food production, the erosion of wages, and the deterioration of healthcare services.

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