Jamaica urges Cuba’s economic reform and wider global integration

Jamaica’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Kamina Johnson Smith, has urged economic reform in Cuba and called for the country to be more fully connected to international economic systems, according to a report by the Jamaica Inquirer.

Johnson Smith made the appeal while addressing the 81st United Nations General Assembly Session. Her remarks came during discussions focused on restoring multilateral cooperation at a time of sharp geopolitical tensions, humanitarian emergencies and worsening climate pressures.

She linked Cuba’s economic isolation to the blockade imposed by the United States, saying the resulting circumstances had contributed to suffering among the Cuban population. Jamaica, she said, is deeply concerned about the hardship faced by Cubans.

The minister’s position places Cuba’s economic circumstances within a wider argument about how countries should work together despite political disagreements. Her call combined support for changes within Cuba with an appeal for greater access to international economic structures.

Cuba and the question of isolation

Johnson Smith’s remarks addressed both the domestic and international dimensions of Cuba’s situation. Economic reform was presented as one part of the response, while closer integration into global economic systems was identified as another.

The reference to the United States blockade made clear that Jamaica views Cuba’s difficulties in the context of external restrictions as well as conditions inside the country. The minister’s concern, as reported by the Jamaica Inquirer, centred on the effects of isolation on ordinary Cubans.

Her comments also reflected the broader theme of the United Nations session: the need to rebuild cooperation between countries when international relations are marked by rivalry. In that setting, Cuba became an example of the consequences that can follow when a country is cut off from wider economic engagement.

The minister did not separate economic questions from wider international responsibilities. Her remarks connected the treatment of Cuba to principles of cooperation, humanitarian concern and the role of international institutions.

Appeal for stronger international rules

Johnson Smith also used the session to stress the importance of international humanitarian law. She said the rules governing armed conflict must be respected and that civilians must be protected as wars continue in different parts of the world.

That appeal broadened her intervention beyond Cuba. While her comments on the island focused on economic isolation and the need for reform, her discussion of humanitarian law addressed the protection of people caught in armed conflicts among countries.

The two elements of her address were tied together by a common emphasis on international responsibility. Economic policy, diplomatic engagement and the protection of civilians were presented as issues that require cooperation rather than indifference.

For Jamaica, the position signals concern about the human consequences of international disputes. Johnson Smith’s remarks placed the suffering of Cubans alongside the wider civilian toll associated with armed conflict, while calling on states to uphold their obligations.

Diplomacy as the preferred response

The minister further argued that diplomacy should remain the first and most sustained means of settling disputes. Her statement came against the backdrop of the geopolitical rivalries and crises discussed during the United Nations session.

By prioritising diplomacy, Johnson Smith called for persistent engagement even when relations between countries are strained. Her message suggested that disagreement should be addressed through continued political effort rather than allowing disputes to deepen isolation or increase harm to civilians.

Taken together, the minister’s remarks set out three connected priorities: reform and economic integration for Cuba, respect for humanitarian law, and diplomacy as the principal way to manage international disagreements.

The Jamaica Inquirer’s report presents the intervention as part of Jamaica’s wider contribution to the debate on rebuilding multilateral cooperation. Johnson Smith’s comments placed the country’s concern for Cuba within a broader call for international systems to respond more effectively to economic isolation, armed conflict and global division.