Morocco Votes Against UN Resolution to End US Blockade on Cuba

On Wednesday, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution calling for an end to the US blockade on Cuba. The resolution, which has been an annual event since 1992, received support from 133 countries, with 17 voting against and 25 abstaining. Among those opposing the resolution was Morocco, alongside the United States, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, Colombia, Paraguay, and others.

Morocco's vote has sparked discussions about its strategic priorities and diplomatic alliances, particularly in light of its complex historical relationship with Cuba. Cuba has historically supported the Polisario Front, a separatist movement in Western Sahara, a region Morocco claims as its own.

Before the vote, US Ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, stated that rejecting the resolution would prevent the UN from being exploited by a corrupt communist system. He argued that the suffering of the Cuban people is not due to a blockade but to their own government, which uses the annual vote to mislead its people.

Hisham Maatouq, a strategic affairs researcher, suggested that Morocco's vote reflects its strategic priorities and diplomatic maneuvering. He noted that countries with clear strategic priorities do not treat all international decisions equally, but rather distinguish between issues that directly affect their vital interests and those that allow them to express their position within their international partnerships.

Maatouq further explained that Morocco's vote alongside the United States does not necessarily mean it endorses all of Washington's positions or indicates a political understanding. Instead, it shows a willingness to align with the US on certain issues while maintaining its own strategic interests.

This vote is not Morocco's first instance of opposing the resolution. In 2021, Morocco also voted against a similar resolution, along with Israel and the US.