Cold War: Formation of the Eastern Bloc

CUBAn Revolution:

COLD WAR COMES TO THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE

Castro’s intent was to overthrow the oppressive dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista whose corrupt and inefficient regime had long been propped up through the support of the United States government.

Castro was joined in his endeavor by diverse elements — from Communists to dignitaries of the Catholic Church. These divergent social and political forces, along with some members of the business community combined to unseat Batista, thought by many to be a repressive dictator.

Even though the US had also been disillusioned with Batista’s leadership, the superpower had provided $10 million in military assistance to the Cuban government in the eight years prior to the revolution. Arms shipments were finally suspended in March 1958.

American policy managed to alienate both sides, weakening Batista’s forces at the same time that it incited Castro’s anger.

While it is impossible to know for sure what caused the lasting enmity between Castro and the American government, Cuba’s nationalization of US petroleum properties and Eisenhower’s economic sanctions — including the elimination of Cuba from the US sugar quota — lead Castro to turn to the Soviet Union for assistance.

Although the Soviet response was initially hesitant and carefully measured, the USSR soon acquiesced. One must assume that they were seduced by the opportunity to obtain a foothold only 90 miles from the Florida shores as well as by a desire to alter the strategic balance of power between the two superpowers.

Cuba, in fact, was geographically invaluable.

Moscow was soon able to establish an intelligence center for the monitoring of US missile range activities in Florida and Texas, and Cuba was also used as a tracking station for Soviet space shots.

By July 1960 the relationship was well established.

Equipment from the Soviet Union soon poured into the island nation, totaling $50 million by the end of 1960. Deliveries included MIG jet fighters, helicopters, tanks, rocket launchers, and various assault and heavy machine guns. Soviet and Czech advisers also arrived.

Many Cubans also reacted negatively. From 1959 – 1962, a steady stream of officials from the deposed Batista regime, along with other professionals and technicians opposed to the revolution, left the island.

Many of these individuals subsequently comprised the core group of 1,400 invaders who were involved in a rebellion against Castro, modeled on successful strategies of covert action employed by the US government in Iran in 1953 and Guatemala in 1954.

Masquerading as Cuban Air Force defectors, the group of exiles was organized and trained by the Central Intelligence Agency, and used American B-26 bombers to carry out their surprise air strike.

Reaction to the invasion was marked by a wave of anti-American demonstrations across Latin America, and the stoning of US Embassies in Tokyo, New Delhi, and Cairo. Moreover, the defeat came at the same time as a Soviet success, the first manned orbital spaceflight around the earth.

Although the United States found itself in a weakened public position, President Kennedy was bolstered by the emerging knowledge that the purported missile gap between the two superpowers was nonexistent.

Shortly after this information became public, the Soviets began sending missiles and personnel into Cuba.