Key facts
- 130 UN nations voted in favor of ending the US embargo on Cuba.
- 17 countries, including the US and Israel, voted against the resolution.
- 25 countries abstained from the vote.
- Germany and Italy abstained for the first time in years.
The UN General Assembly overwhelmingly urged an end to the decades-long US economic embargo on Cuba on Wednesday. However, a US lobbying effort resulted in more countries opposing or abstaining from the resolution compared to previous years. The vote showed 130 nations in favor, 25 abstaining, and 17 voting against, a shift from last year's 165-7 tally. Several Western countries, including Germany and Italy, abstained for the first time in many years. The UN vote carries political weight, but only the US Congress can lift the embargo.