U.S.-Cuba relations by Casey Maione

-Back in the 1890’s, Cuba and the U.S. were trade partners (even as Cuba was still under Spanish rule)

-After the USS Maine mysteriously exploded in 1898, killing >200 people, the United States entered into war with Spain

-Cuba had been seeking independence for over a decade before the U.S. intervened in their country. Under Spain’s rule, they suffered immensely at the hands of brutal dictators like Valeriano Weyler y Nicolau

-After the U.S. defeated Spanish forces, the Treaty of Paris was signed just in time for New Year’s, 1899

-Following Cuba’s liberation, the U.S. mandated that Cuba would not transfer any of its land to any foreign power (except the U.S.); limited Cuba negotiations with other countries, established a naval base on Cuban soil, and reserved the right to intervene in Cuba once again in order to preserve Cuban independence

-The ‘Cuban Missile Crisis’ (October 1962) was an event in history where the world came closest to entering into Nuclear War

-When Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev and Fidel Castro entered into an agreement that allowed the Soviet’s to construct nuclear-missile launching facilities to deter international invasion

-After American video surveillance proved this scary fact, President Kennedy issued a naval ‘quarantine’ (not a ‘blockade’**) of Cuba in order to quell the rising threat of nuclear capability in such a close region

-((October 24)) Khrushchev made a statement that such a ‘blockade’ was an act of aggression, and that Soviet ships would proceed. Yet, some Soviet ships turned back from the quarantine line, while others were let through because they carried no offensive weapons...]

-Over the next few days, lots of secret conversations were had, most notably between a Soviet agent and an ABC news correspondent, John Scali, who was notified that an agreement could be reached between the two powers and the Soviets would remove their missiles so long as the Americans promised not the invade the island

1. The United States has been an international power for quite a long time, involving itself in many foreign territories for many reasons. If we’ve learned anything from history, what’s the most effective way to approach a foreign nation in order to build ties rather than burn bridges?
2. Why does the U.S. still impose an embargo over Cuba? If we really are turning a new leaf in the relationship, couldn’t it be a step towards peace?
3. The U.S. just expelled 15 Cuban diplomats in response to various health “attacks” on American diplomats in Cuba. How will this impact and possibly hurt the relations between the two countries? What steps could be taken to heal this fiasco?
4. The United States announced on Friday that it was sharply reducing its diplomatic presence in Cuba, as it warned U.S. citizens not to visit the Communist-ruled island because of the alleged attacks it says have caused hearing loss, dizziness and fatigue in 22 U.S. embassy personnel. Sooo… how does this affect the opinion of this trip? Personally, it can be unsettling to hear about these relations, especially when good intentions on the small scale get muddied by bad intentions on the large scale.
5. It’s interesting how we are now experiencing a similar nuclear threat with North Korea. In the end, could it be as simple as one side extending a hand to say; we don’t want war…?

“The Cuban Missile Crisis.” U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of State, history.state.gov/milestones/1961-1968/cuban-missile-crisis.

The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. “Cuban Independence Movement.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 7 Oct. 2015, www.britannica.com/event/Cuban-Independence-Movement.