US & Israel Oppose the Entire World in UN Vote to End Cuba Blockade: Not Quite
In a decisive vote of 187 to 2, the United States and Israel stood against the international community on the resolution titled “Necessity of Ending the Economic, Commercial, and Financial Embargo Imposed by the United States of America Against Cuba.”
Notably, Argentina’s Foreign Minister, Diana Mondino, defied orders and joined the majority of countries opposing the United States. Following her dissent, Argentina’s President, Javier Milei, expressed his outrage and dismissed Mondino, replacing her with Gerardo Werthein, Argentina’s ambassador to the US.
Historically, Argentina has voted consistently 32 times alongside the international community on this issue. However, this recent vote marks the first instance since Milei’s inauguration that Argentina has diverged from the positions of the US and Israeli governments.
The official statement from President Milei’s office declared Argentina to be “categorically opposed to the Cuban dictatorship.” It emphasized, “The country is undergoing profound changes, and this new stage requires our diplomatic corps to reflect the values of freedom, sovereignty, and individual rights that characterize Western democracies. We remain firm in promoting a foreign policy that condemns all regimes that perpetrate human rights violations.”
Sabrina Ajmechet, a legislator affiliated with the party of former president Mauricio Macri, tweeted her support: “Proud of a government that does not tolerate nor is complicit with dictators. Long live Free Cuba (Viva #CubaLibre).”
Interestingly, while Cuba has historically supported Argentina’s claims over the Falkland Islands—a territory contested with Britain since the 1982 war—this recent political shift highlights the complexities of international relations.
Mr. Werthein, who is 68 years old and became Argentina’s ambassador to Washington following Milei’s presidency beginning in December, is one of two Jewish ambassadors representing Argentina. The other is Axel Wahnish, an Orthodox rabbi who serves in Israel. The US ambassador to Argentina, Marc Stanley, is also Jewish and actively involved in Buenos Aires’ Jewish community.
Furthermore, Foreign Minister Werthein had previously accompanied the then still-un-elected president to visit the gravesite of the Lubavitcher Rebbe in Queens.
A member of one of Argentina’s wealthiest families with diverse holdings across agriculture, energy, financial services, real estate, telecommunications, food, and health industries, Ambassador Werthein, has also served as the president of the Argentine Olympic Committee from 2009 to 2021, during which Buenos Aires was selected to host the 2018 Youth Olympic Games. He is also an accomplished equestrian.
Argentina has had a previous Jewish Foreign Minister, Héctor Timerman. He was charged with treason in 2013 for his role in negotiating an agreement with Iran relating to the 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish community center in Buenos Aires.
President Milei sworn the new Foreign Minister: “Mr. Gerardo Werthein, do you swear by God and by the homeland and on the Torah to faithfully and devotedly fulfill the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade, and Religions, to which you have been appointed, and to uphold and enforce, as far as it depends on you, the Constitution of Argentina?”
Milei drew an analogy between Werthein’s tasks and Abraham’s journey, as recounted in “Lech Lecha.” He explained that this Torah portion recounts God’s command to Abraham to leave his home and embark on a journey into the unknown, emphasizing the importance of spreading messages of faith and freedom to the world.
“It’s interesting what it points out. You are being sent signals by the forces of heaven, Gerardo, because it speaks of the beginnings of Abraham’s journeys around the world, spreading the messages of the Creator,” President Milei said.
He added, “God tells him that he will have much influence among the world’s nations, giving him an important responsibility to carry the messages of the Torah, of life and freedom to the whole world. Even Abraham will interact with other nations in this parashah.”
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz expressed his appreciation for the unique swearing-in ceremony, stating: “I was very moved to see President Javier Milei reading at the swearing-in ceremony the weekly portion ‘Lech Lecha’ and swearing Werthein on the Torah.”
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