Waltz says Cuban diplomat pushed UN advisor and links Russian energy to pressure on diesel

The United States ambassador to the UN, Mike Waltz, stated that a Cuban diplomat pushed a member of his team and took a cell phone from another aide's hand during an episode at the United Nations. In an interview with Fox Business, Waltz said that Cuba's foreign minister got up from his chair and approached the podium. According to him, the tension reached a point where "he thought there was going to be a fight."

According to Waltz's account, the diplomat expelled from the country was trying to embarrass UN officials into cutting off the American ambassador's microphone. He said the expulsion was ordered by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and that the diplomat was placed on a one-way flight to Cuba. Waltz described himself as a "Green Beret for 27 years" and said the Cuban delegation "messed with the wrong diplomat."

The ambassador attributed the Cuban reaction to the moment when he started showing photos of Fidel Castro's private island, a luxury jet, Rolex watches and yachts linked to the regime. In his assessment, the elites live in luxury while the population goes hungry. Asked about threats of military action made by President Donald Trump in recent months, Waltz responded that the Cuban people "will see freedom" under the current government, without detailing measures.

Ukraine, refineries and the price of diesel

The interview also dealt with the war in Ukraine. The presenter noted that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he heard from Trump that he should not attack refineries in Russia and that he continues to do so. Asked if this delays the peace process, Waltz recalled that the government approved, two days earlier, a US$2.1 billion package of Patriot missiles for Ukraine.

Waltz said Trump called on both sides to stop attacking energy infrastructure as well as grain and food exports. According to him, around 30% of the world's grains come from the two countries, and half a billion Africans would be affected if the situation worsens. He said American negotiators are trying to get the parties to stop these attacks.

What does this mean for the market

The reporter pointed out that one of the reasons Trump wants an end to the attacks on energy is the effect on the global cost of oil. He cited diesel as a serious problem for the midterm election cycle. Waltz agreed and said that the mainstream press tends to blame the Strait of Hormuz, but that, according to him, volumes leaving the region are at pre-war levels, with no Iranian oil in transit.

In the ambassador's version, the focus is on diesel refineries, and Russia is a major exporter of refined fuel. He recalled that diesel powers tractors, trucks and airlines, and said that this is yet another reason for the president to want to end the war. For investors, the message is that the American government sees the refining chain and fuels as a factor in pressure on prices and inflation, although the interview does not include market figures.

Waltz also mentioned investments by Trump and Secretary Pete Hegseth in the defense industrial base, to replenish stocks and accelerate the production of interceptors. He credited the first lady with a personal role in reaching a ceasefire agreement in a disputed region, with the influx of humanitarian aid. These points were made by the ambassador and were not independently verified in the interview.

Regarding the security alert from the US embassy in Moscow, which cited a credible threat of a mass casualty event, Waltz said he had not been informed of the details and could not comment. He only stated that the United States has a duty to warn when it becomes aware of an imminent attack, including to the other party.

Automatically translated from Portuguese.