Resolution 13 - We Oppose U.S. Unilateral Coercive Measures Against Cuba and Support Normalizing Relations Based on Mutually Recognized Sovereignty and Respect

Resolution 13 

We Oppose U.S. Unilateral Coercive Measures Against Cuba and Support Normalizing Relations Based on Mutually Recognized Sovereignty and Respect

WHEREAS: Both the United States (U.S.) and Cuba are sovereign countries and members of the United Nations (U.N.); and

WHEREAS: The U.N. Charter is a treaty which was ratified by the U.S., is therefore the “supreme law of the land” under the U.S. Constitution, Article VI, and is binding on the U.S. government including the President and the administration; and

WHEREAS: Article 2(4) of the U.N. Charter states, “All members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations”; and

WHEREAS: U.S. government policy since at least April 1960, acknowledging the broad popular support in Cuba for the revolution led by Fidel Castro, adopted in secret a course of action designed “to bring about hunger, desperation and overthrow of government” in Cuba, which has resulted in hundreds of U.S. unilateral coercive measures (UCMs) against Cuba; and

WHEREAS: on January 29, 2026, President Donald Trump issued Executive Order 14380 “Addressing Threats to the United States by the Government of Cuba” and threatened to impose high tariffs on any country selling or supplying oil to Cuba; and

WHEREAS: The U.S. is now enforcing a strict oil blockade against Cuba, through tariff threats, naval interdiction of tankers, and financial sanctions against oil suppliers; and

WHEREAS: Cuba poses no economic or military threat to the U.S. nor to any other country; and

WHEREAS: this Executive Order and accompanying threats have limited dramatically the flow of oil to the island, which is compounding decades of U.S. unilateral coercive measures against Cuba and created an unprecedented humanitarian crisis affecting the country’s electricity grid, food supply, transportation, and medical services; and

WHEREAS: after over 30 years of overwhelming annual condemnations by the U.N. General Assembly against the U.S. unilateral coercive measures, U.N. leadership has also expressed extreme concern for the humanitarian impacts of this Executive Order, warned of humanitarian collapse, and urged all parties to pursue dialogue and respect for international law; and therefore be it

RESOLVED that the North Dakota AFL-CIO strongly urges the President Trump to immediately rescind Executive Order 14380 and enter into meaningful good faith negotiations with the Cuban government on the basis of recognition of its sovereignty and mutual respect, with the goal of ending the U.S. oil blockade and all other unilateral coercive measures, including to remove Cuba from the U.S. list of State Sponsors of Terrorism (SSOT) list; and be it further 

RESOLVED that the North Dakota AFL-CIO urges our congressional delegation to pass legislation to eliminate the embargo; remove all sanctions against Cuba by the United States and allow the peoples of the United States and Cuba to travel and trade freely between the countries.