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

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last updated 27 October 2016

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.