The Relationship Between the United States and Cuba

The Early US-Cuban Relationship and the Monroe Doctrine

The early relationship between the United States and Cuba was influenced by the Monroe Doctrine, a policy declared in 1823 that opposed European colonialism in the Americas. The US Secretary of State, John Quincy Adams, foresaw Cuba's eventual separation from Spanish rule and its gravitation towards the US, akin to a ripe fruit falling near its tree. Southern US politicians before the Civil War considered annexing Cuba to expand slave territories due to its lucrative sugar industry and substantial enslaved population. However, the prospect of a rebellion and the potential for a government led by people of African descent in Cuba raised concerns that delayed support for Cuban independence.

Cuban Struggle for Independence and US Interests

Cuba's prolonged struggle for independence from Spain included the Ten Years War (1868-1878), the Little War (1879-1880), and the Cuban War of Independence (1895-1898). These conflicts were characterized by the active involvement of enslaved and free people of color, who often targeted the island's sugar plantations. Although the Ten Years War ended without achieving independence, it initiated a process that led to the gradual abolition of slavery. The final push for independence, led by José Martí, was met with severe Spanish repression. The United States, with economic interests in Cuban sugar and strategic military concerns, eventually supported Cuban independence, swayed by sensationalist journalism and public sentiment.

The Spanish-American War and the Platt Amendment

The mysterious explosion of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor in 1898 served as a catalyst for the US to declare war on Spain, leading to the Spanish-American War. The US victory resulted in the Treaty of Paris, with Spain ceding control of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines to the US. Although Cuba was promised independence, the Platt Amendment, imposed in 1901, significantly limited Cuban sovereignty by granting the US the right to intervene in Cuban affairs and to establish naval bases, notably Guantánamo Bay. This amendment effectively established a neocolonial relationship between the US and Cuba.

US Hegemony and the Cuban Economy

Following Cuba's formal independence in 1902, the United States maintained a strong presence in the Cuban economy, particularly in the sugar sector. The repeal of the Platt Amendment in 1934, as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Good Neighbor Policy, did not fully eliminate US influence. Subsequent trade agreements continued to bind Cuba's economy to the US. This economic dominance, coupled with political interference, laid the groundwork for the Cuban Revolution.

The Cuban Revolution and the Rise of Fidel Castro

The Cuban Revolution (1953-1959) was a response to US interventionist policies and the oppressive regime of Fulgencio Batista. Fidel Castro, a lawyer and political activist, emerged as a leader after his failed assault on the Moncada Barracks in 1953. Despite imprisonment and exile, Castro led a successful guerrilla campaign that ultimately forced Batista to flee. Upon taking power in 1959, Castro's government implemented agrarian reforms and nationalized properties owned by US corporations. The alignment with the Soviet Union and the radical changes in Cuban society led to a deterioration of US-Cuban relations.

The Bay of Pigs Invasion and the Cuban Missile Crisis

The Bay of Pigs Invasion in 1961, an unsuccessful CIA-backed operation by Cuban exiles to overthrow Castro, heightened tensions between the US and Cuba. The subsequent deployment of Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba in 1962 precipitated the Cuban Missile Crisis, bringing the world to the brink of nuclear conflict. These events cemented Cuba's position as a significant Cold War actor and entrenched the adversarial relationship with the United States.

Post-Cold War Relations and Attempts at Normalization

The dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 led to severe economic challenges for Cuba, known as the "Special Period." The US responded by intensifying its embargo, aiming to pressure for political change. Despite these challenges, the Cuban government persisted. The 21st century witnessed some warming of relations, including the restoration of diplomatic ties in 2015 and President Barack Obama's visit in 2016. However, subsequent US administrations have adopted varying policies towards Cuba, leaving the trajectory of their relationship in flux.