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Cuba | When it comes to Cuba, the federal government loses its foreign policy compass
For the first time in 34 years, Germany supports the US blockade policy in the UN and abstains from voting. A comment from Andreas Knobloch.
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Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla delivers a speech at the United Nations headquarters. Representatives of the USA and Cuba had had a heated exchange of words the day before. Photo: dpa/AP/Seth Wenig The international community has once again rejected the United States' blockade policy against Cuba by a large majority. The UN General Assembly in New York adopted a resolution introduced by Cuba calling for an end to the economic, trade and financial blockade against the island that has lasted more than six decades - with 130 votes in favor, 17 against and 25 abstentions.
This year there were 10 more votes against and 13 more abstentions than last year. Cuba complained that Washington had threatened third countries with tariffs or the termination of cooperation programs so that they would refuse to support the resolution introduced by Cuba.
Despite the threats, a large majority condemned the blockade, which violated international law: a victory for Cuba. The loser, however, is Germany, which abstained from voting for the first time in 34 years. While the US sanctions policy against Cuba is massively aggravating the humanitarian situation on the island, the federal government is acquiescing to a US policy that openly violates international and explicitly EU law by ducking away. This is shameful. Or to put it with left-wing politician Sören Pellmann: The federal government has “completely lost its foreign policy compass.”
It is time for Berlin to emancipate itself from Washington and finally pursue an independent Latin America and Cuba policy that does not only focus on the suffering of the civilian population when it seems politically expedient. The US blockade of Cuba is a crime; It would have been good for Berlin to continue to demand its repeal.
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