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The Vietnamese ambassador to the United Nations, Do Hung Viet, urged member states of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) to preserve the spirit of solidarity with Cuba and reject unilateral embargoes and sanctions, during the regular meeting of ambassadors of the movement held at the UN headquarters in New York.
The call occurred on the same day that President Donald Trump signed a new executive order that freezes all assets and interests in properties located within U.S. territory of foreign individuals linked to the Cuban regime, expanding sanctions in sectors such as energy, defense, mining, and financial services.
Do Hung Viet called on the members of the MPNA to "preserve the spirit of solidarity of the movement, continue supporting Cuba, reject unilateral embargoes and sanctions, and support dialogue efforts between Cuba and the United States based on mutual respect, peace, stability, and the interests of their peoples."
The diplomat also stated that Vietnam has offered "concrete support in sectors such as agriculture and energy to help alleviate the difficulties faced by the Cuban people."
In the same meeting, the Cuban ambassador to the UN, Ernesto Soberón, stated that Washington "has continued to tighten sanctions, especially in areas such as energy, trade, and tourism, which severely impacts the economy, society, and standard of living in Cuba, particularly in sectors like food and healthcare."
The statement from the Cuban representative coincides with a projected GDP contraction of between 6.5% and 7.2% for 2026, according to estimates from The Economist Intelligence Unit and ECLAC, which would amount to a 23% decline since 2019.
The sanctions imposed by the Trump administration have reduced Cuba's energy imports by 80% to 90%, leaving the island on the brink of total blackouts of up to 25 hours a day in more than 55% of the territory.
The new executive order signed yesterday is based on Executive Order 14380 of January 29, 2026, which declared a national emergency due to the threat posed by the Cuban government to the security of the United States, and which also reinstated Cuba to the list of state sponsors of terrorism.
Since January 2025, the Trump administration has imposed more than 240 sanctions against Cuba. The regime of Miguel Díaz-Canel described the new measures this Saturday as a “brutal genocidal blockade,” while Bruno Rodríguez responded to Washington's latest actions rejecting the pressures.
In his speech, Do Hung Viet took the opportunity of the 51st anniversary of Vietnam's reunification to thank the historical support of the MPNA for his country, highlighting the Cuban solidarity expressed in Fidel Castro's historic phrase: “For Vietnam, we are willing to give even our own blood.”
Vietnam, which has maintained relations with Cuba for over 65 years, is the largest Asian investor on the island, with projects in agriculture and solar energy, including a solar panel factory in the Mariel Special Economic Zone with an investment exceeding 160 million dollars.
In February 2026, the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, had already warned about the risk of humanitarian collapse in Cuba due to fuel shortages, exacerbated by U.S. sanctions.
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