MRECIC ARG (Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs), cropped from a 2013 UN photoSourceCC BY-SA 2.0
Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla is a Cuban diplomat who has served as Cuba's minister of foreign affairs since March 2009. Born in Mexico City in 1958, he trained as a lawyer and taught public international law at the University of Havana before entering the foreign service. He was Cuba's permanent representative to the United Nations from 1995 to 2003 and first deputy foreign minister before his appointment as minister. He is a member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of Cuba and a deputy in the National Assembly.
We have documented 5 statements by Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, in 1 case. Each statement below gives the quotation, its original source and a link to the full case.
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Role at the time: Cuba's minister of foreign affairs, posting on X
Condemned
Statement summary
In the General Assembly debate on Cuba's annual resolution against the U.S. embargo, Rodríguez said the United States wages economic war on Cuba to dominate it and bring about regime change. He called the fuel blockade the equivalent of a naval blockade and an act of war, collective punishment and genocide.
“At the UN General Assembly I denounced the economic war the U.S. is waging against Cuba for the purposes of domination and "regime change." This aggression includes a fuel blockade, which is equivalent to a naval blockade, which is an act of war and an act of collective punishment and genocide, prohibited by international law. (Translated from Spanish. Original: En la Asamblea General de @ONU_es denuncié la guerra económica que EEUU lleva a cabo contra Cuba con fines de de dominación y "cambio de régimen". Esta agresión incluye un bloqueo de combustible, que equivale a un bloqueo naval, que es un acto de guerra y un acto de castigo colectivo y de genocidio, proscritos por el Derecho Internacional.)”
Read the original post (opens in a new tab)Bruno Rodríguez on X: his General Assembly speech on the U.S. economic war and regime change · Bruno Rodríguez ParrillaX post of Oct. 28, 2026, 15:13 UTC, full text (Spanish)
Why we used this label
Relative to the administration's stated aim of fundamental change in Cuba, Rodríguez describes U.S. economic pressure as a campaign for domination and regime change and calls it an act of war. That rejects the objective the case tracks.
Role at the time: Cuba's minister of foreign affairs, posting on X
Condemned
Statement summary
After Trump told a Florida rally that U.S. ships returning from Iran would stop off Cuba's coast and that Marco Rubio would then close a deal with Havana, Rodríguez wrote that Cuba rejects any threat over U.S. ambitions toward the island and warned that its coast is inhospitable to those who come with hostile aims.
“We reject any threat over U.S. ambitions toward Cuba. On our coasts there are beautiful beaches, but also jagged dog's-tooth rock, inhospitable to those who arrive with hostile aims and a hunger for domination. (Translated from Spanish. Original: Rechazamos toda amenaza sobre ambiciones de EEUU hacia Cuba. En nuestras costas hay bellas playas, pero también diente de perro, inhóspito para quienes llegan con fines hostiles y ansias de dominación.)”
Read the original post (opens in a new tab)Bruno Rodríguez on X: Cuba rejects any threat over U.S. ambitions toward the island · Bruno Rodríguez ParrillaX post of Oct. 23, 2026, 20:26 UTC, full text (Spanish)
Why we used this label
Rodríguez answers Trump's remarks about pressing Cuba once the Iran war ends by rejecting them as threats driven by ambitions of domination. That rejects the objective of forcing change in Cuba that the case tracks.
Role at the time: Cuba's minister of foreign affairs, posting on X
Condemned
Statement summary
Rodríguez wrote that most Americans support diplomatic relations with Cuba, disapprove of the oil blockade, reject military intervention and do not trust Trump to decide on the island. He said Trump's address at the UN did not reflect the views of most of the U.S. population.
“American society does not go along with the policy of maximum pressure against Cuba. ... In the speech delivered at the UN, the President of the U.S. says he speaks on behalf of the U.S., but he does not reflect what most of its population thinks. (Translated from Spanish. Original: La sociedad estadounidense no acompaña la política de máxima presión contra Cuba. ... En el discurso pronunciado en @ONU_es, el Presidente de EEUU dice hablar en nombre de EEUU, pero no refleja lo que opina la mayor parte de su población.)”
Read the original post (opens in a new tab)Bruno Rodríguez on X: most Americans do not back maximum pressure on Cuba · Bruno Rodríguez ParrillaX post of Oct. 1, 2026, 13:37 UTC, full text (Spanish)
Why we used this label
Relative to the administration's stated aim of fundamental change in Cuba, Rodríguez rejects the maximum-pressure policy and argues that Trump's UN address lacks the support of most Americans. He opposes the policy itself rather than only disputing how it was described.
Role at the time: Cuba's minister of foreign affairs
Condemned
Statement summary
Rodriguez argues that US economic pressure deliberately harms Cuban families and seeks to induce a humanitarian crisis. He connects it to an effort to overthrow Cuba's government while offering dialogue based on sovereign equality and non-interference.
“The economic warfare is aimed against the people.”
Read the original text (opens in a new tab)Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla's address to the 81st UN General AssemblyPages 2-8, pressure on Cuba, humanitarian consequences and terms for dialogue
Why we used this label
The case concerns US efforts to change Cuba's government. Rodriguez condemns economic pressure for that purpose as collective punishment and defends Cuba's sovereignty.
Role at the time: Cuba's minister of foreign affairs, posting on X
Condemned
Statement summary
Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez responded to Trump's address on X the same day, saying Washington is unable to accept that Cuba is independent and sovereign. He called Trump's statements false and said Cuba is not a threat to the United States or to other countries.
“Washington is "unable to accept" that Cuba is an independent and sovereign country.”
Trump told the UN that Cuba is a failed state that "will fall" and that his administration seeks fundamental change there. Cuba's delegation walked out; Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez called the claims falsehoods.
