THE United Nations general assembly has overwhelmingly condemned the illegal US blockade of Cuba, backing a call for Washington to lift it by 187 votes to two.

It is the 32nd year in a row that the assembly has called for the blockade to end.

Only the US and Israel voted against the resolution and only Moldova abstained, matching the record for support for the socialist island first set in 2019 and equalled last year.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez hit out at the US government policy of applying “maximum pressure” in an effort to deprive his country of the imported fuel it relies on, particularly when Hurricane Oscar caused a widespread power cut this month.

“President Joseph Biden’s administration usually claims that its policy is intended to 'help and support the Cuban people’,” Mr Rodriguez said, adding: “Who would believe such an assertion?”

Cuba has struggled to cope with the impact of the US blockade on its energy and food supplies. Recent blackouts highlighted the challenges that the Cubans have in obtaining parts to repair systems that break down.  

Though non-binding, the general assembly once again confirms the isolation of the US over the blockade, which was first imposed in 1960 in the immediate aftermath of the communists coming to power.

The resolution reaffirmed, among other principles, the sovereignty of nations, non-intervention and non-interference in their internal affairs and freedom of international trade and navigation.

Following the vote, Argentina’s far-right President Javier Milei sacked his foreign minister for voting against the US blockade. 

Diana Mondino has been replaced by the country’s ambassador to the US, Gerardo Werthein, Mr Milei’s spokesman Manuel Adorni said on his X account.

The president’s office later insisted that Argentina is “categorically opposed” to the Cuba political system. 

Since taking power last December, Mr Milei has made his country’s foreign policy more aligned with US and Israeli interests.