On October 26, 2016, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution admonishing the Untied States for its role in the continuing economic, commercial, and financial embargo against Cuba. According to news reports, the vote occurs on an annual basis with the United State historically voting no until this year, when it abstained. The United States has recently been pursuing a relaxing of tensions with Cuba by restoring diplomatic ties and easing various aspects of the long-standing restrictions. The symbolic vote at the United Nations came just days before the death of Fidel Castro, the former Cuban leader and revolutionary.