For the first time, U.S. to abstain from U.N. vote on Cuba embargo

President Obama.
(Image credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

On Wednesday, the U.S. will sit out the annual United Nations vote on a resolution urging America to end its economic embargo against Cuba. This will mark the first time in the resolution's 24 years of existence that the U.S. has abstained from voting; last year, only the U.S. and Israel voted against the measure.

The decision to abstain, announced by Obama administration officials, will "effectively pit the Obama administration and Cuba with the world body against the Republican-led Congress," The Associated Press reported. Though the U.S. has resumed full diplomatic relations with Cuba, congressional Republicans are in favor of maintaining the 55-year-old embargo.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us