UN overwhelmingly rejects US embargo against Cuba

By Michelle Nurse Last updated Oct 28, 2015

The General Assembly adopted for the twenty-fourth consecutive year a resolution calling for an end to the United States economic, commercial and financial embargo on Cuba. A tally of the vote is displayed electronically on two screens. Photo by Cia Pak via UN)

(CNN) The United States voted against a U.N. resolution criticizing the U.S. economic embargo against Cuba Tuesday, despite initial U.S. discussions about abstaining on the annual vote.

The U.S. had considered taking a less emphatic stance on the resolution in light of the new opening of diplomatic relations between the two countries. U.S. officials said they decided to cast a “no” ballot because the text did not fully reflect the spirit of the recent opening between the two former enemies.

Only Israel joined the U.S. in opposing the resolution, with 191 voting for it.