Diplomats do not usually square up at the United Nations. It went there Tuesday, when Cuba’s foreign minister walked up on the US ambassador in the middle of his speech and called him a liar in front of the whole General Assembly.
Mike Waltz was at the podium arguing against the annual resolution condemning the US embargo on Cuba, laying out how Havana’s leaders enriched themselves while ordinary Cubans go without, at one point holding up a photo of Fidel Castro wearing Rolex watches.
The Cuban delegation banged on its tables and demanded a point of order. Bruno Rodríguez left his seat, walked toward the rostrum and accused Waltz of lying and breaking the Assembly’s rules. Waltz told him to back up, and said he was not going to be intimidated in the United States the way political prisoners are in Cuba.
General Assembly President Khalilur Rahman banged his gavel and suspended the meeting. Waltz later finished his speech and urged the Assembly to reject the resolution, which goes to a vote on Wednesday.
“They can intimidate their own people in Cuba but think again about trying that nonsense in the United States of America.”
Mike Waltz, in a statement posted after the exchange
Rodríguez fired back when he got the floor, calling Waltz a liar and his speech beneath the dignity of the forum. The New York Post also reported that a member of the Cuban delegation tried to grab the phone of Waltz spokesman J.P. Freire while he was recording the confrontation.
The embargo vote lands Wednesday. After Tuesday, nobody in that hall is pretending this one is routine.