Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla stormed towards the dais at the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, 28 October 2026, yelling as he confronted US Permanent Representative Mike Waltz, briefly halting a session focused on Washington's long-standing embargo against Cuba. The dramatic confrontation — one of the most visible diplomatic clashes at the UNGA in recent memory — was triggered as Waltz delivered a pointed critique of the Cuban government.

What Happened at the Podium

As Waltz addressed the Assembly, the Cuban delegation began thumping their desks and shouting. Rodriguez and his team then left their seats and marched toward the dais, demanding to speak on a point of order. The two envoys locked into a tense staring match — Waltz at the black marble rostrum, Rodriguez and his delegation directly below.

Assembly President Khalilur Rahman intervened repeatedly, appealing for order. 'Please sit down. Sit down,' he urged, likening the atmosphere to an unruly classroom. He briefly suspended the session before allowing it to resume within minutes. 'I'm here to administer the rules of procedure in a fair manner, in an independent manner,' Rahman told delegates.

Waltz, undeterred, shouted at Rodriguez: 'Back away! This isn't Havana.' When the meeting resumed, Rodriguez raised his point of order, accusing Waltz of 'lying grossly' and 'offending the dignity of the people and government of Cuba.'

Waltz's Accusations and the Rolex Photographs

At the centre of Waltz's remarks were allegations of corruption within Cuba's ruling elite. 'Havana would have you believe everything in Cuba has just disappeared. Well, we know, we know where it went,' he said. He then displayed photographs purportedly showing a member of the Castro family wearing two Rolex watches reportedly worth $40,000 — a reference widely understood to point to former Cuban President Raul Castro, brother of revolutionary leader Fidel Castro.

After the session resumed, Waltz noted that Rodriguez had 'tried to silence him in front of cameras and ambassadors,' adding that the incident illustrated broader repression: 'Imagine what happens if you dare to speak out under the iron fist of this regime.'

Context: The Cuba Embargo Vote

The confrontation unfolded as the General Assembly prepared to vote on Wednesday on a resolution calling for an end to the US embargo on Cuba — an annual exercise at the UN that Washington consistently loses by a wide margin. This year carries heightened stakes: the embargo has reportedly tightened to what several nations described as 'unprecedented and extreme levels,' including a blockade on oil shipments to the island.

The overwhelming majority of nations that spoke during the session opposed Washington's embargo. Uganda's Permanent Representative Adonia Ayebare, addressing the Assembly on behalf of the Nonaligned Movement, said the group 'expresses its deep concern regarding the measures announced by the government of the United States this year, which tightened [the embargo] to unprecedented and extreme levels.'

Regional Blocs Voice Concern

Ayebare also referenced circulating reports of US President Donald Trump reportedly planning military action against Cuba, urging the General Assembly to 'mobilise efforts to prevent the military aggression against Cuba, a founding member of the Nonaligned Movement, and preserve peace.' The White House has not publicly confirmed any such plans.

Singapore's Permanent Representative Burhan Gafoor, speaking for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), said the bloc 'is particularly concerned about the impact of the embargo on the Cuban people, especially their access to food, medicines and other essential supplies.'

The vote on the resolution is scheduled for Wednesday, and is expected to draw near-universal support against the embargo — as it has for more than three decades.