Rome, June 11, 2026 – The Europe Today: Cuba has reaffirmed its commitment to the right to food and the principles of multilateralism as essential pillars for sustainable development during the 181st session of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Council, held in Rome from June 8 to 11.
Speaking at the session, Cuba’s Permanent Representative to the FAO, Ambassador Jorge Luis Cepero Aguilar, emphasized that hunger and extreme poverty continue to affect millions of people worldwide, driven by what he described as an unequal and exclusionary international economic order.
The Cuban envoy strongly criticized the economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by the United States, calling it illegal and identifying it as the main obstacle to Cuba’s sustainable development and the full realization of the right to food for its population.
He stated that, in the past year alone, the impact of these restrictions resulted in losses exceeding $7 billion, resources that could have been used to strengthen national food security and improve the distribution of subsidized food to the Cuban population.
Ambassador Cepero Aguilar also warned about the continued effects of restrictive measures in 2026, which he said limit access to essential fuel, financial resources, and supply chains, while also affecting the operations of United Nations agencies in the country.
Despite these challenges, Cuba reaffirmed its longstanding cooperation with the FAO and expressed its willingness to further strengthen collaboration with the organization. The country also called on the international community to take concrete action in support of social justice, food sovereignty, and the development of more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agri-food systems.
